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Has the alliance considered a paypal link? An easier way
for some people to pay you. Just a thought. I am happy to contribute and that
would be an easy way for many people. -StillanIBMer-Alliance Reply: Use this link also:http://www.endicottalliance.org/amemberform2.htmThe donate through PayPal is at the
top.You need
to have a paypal account to use this feature. Please let us know of any issues
regarding this new feature to Alliance@IBM.2/3/2009 Alliance@IBM is now
on
Send us a tweet and send one to your co-workers.
Let's keep the focus on the rumor of job cuts in the USA and the World; and
other subjects, pertinent to IBM workers.
09/03/09:Alliance needs contact with ex-IBM employees who
were RA'd while h1b visa worker remained.
Please contact Lee Conrad ASAP at ibmunionalliance@gmail.com
-Alliance-
12/07/12: Please click the link here and
sign the petition. This is on the front page of our web site, too.http://www.change.org/petitions/international-business-machines-ibm-usa-ibm-must-reverse-the-decision-changing-the-ibm-match-401-k-contribution
-Alliance-Comment
11/30/14:"Reliable source says US cuts
only 12% of work force."The Allance estimated that IBM would have about 80,000 US employees after
the Lenovo sale, so "only" 12% means 9,600 people -- seems a bit incredulous.
In the past, IBM has avoided mass layoffs that would attract publicity and require
60-day public notice under the WARN act. In addition, IBM has been hiring people
in Cloud and other strategic areas, and a lot of that work is in the US. Unless
IBM is planning to sell off another division or two next year, it seems highly
unlikely that there will be anything close to a 12% reduction in the US.
-Survivor-
Alliance reply: Not only are IBM workers being moved to Lenovo but IBM chip
workers are being moved to Global Foundries and at least 4000 were cut in February.Our front page count estimate has had US IBM employees
as 83,000 listed for 2014, for several months before
the Global Foundries and Lenovo sales.Comment
11/30/14: If anyone at the highest levels of
IBM has half a brain (which I've come to doubt), after they are done with the
massive slash in January, they will then try to build the morale of whomever
is left by re-instituting pay raises, bonuses, 401k match in each paycheck.
That would make sense, so I doubt they'll do it. But if they do, please don't
get all warm and fuzzy. Those left need to protect themselves and organize,
because it will just happen again and again. This company has no plan, no leadership,
and is doomed. Remember how you were treated, support the alliance no matter
what. -ItsATrap-Comment
11/30/14: There is no chance of this ship turning
around with morale as low as it is. As they say in football, the entire exec
teams worldwide have lost the dressing room. It really is as simple as that.
This ship will sink. -IBM UK-Comment
11/30/14: I saw some comments about managers
and college degrees. You can generally assume that the more MBA a person has,
the more things are managed the way IBM and other big corporations do. In that
respect it would be better to have a manager without college degrees and a background
of running a plumbing business. I think that all problems related to treating
your employees (e.g. resources) are BECAUSE of what students get taught in places
like Harvard. So, actually, college degrees don't do that much....it gets you
started...but after that it is only experience, vision and personality that
count!!! -Fairness101-Comment
11/30/14: Did anyone get a MBA review this year?
Last year they changed it and said MBA's will be done in October and in effect
December 1. Was it really skipped without any communication? Is this an IBM
practice now? Pretend it doesn't exist. I'm really dissapointed I didn't get
to listen to the IBM pays competitively speech only to be told I'm not eligible
for an MBA. That's what happens when you have multiple merit review cycles that
don't keep up with inflation. Wake up people. Organize! What do you have to
lose? -MBA_IS_A_JOKE-Comment
11/30/14: What does a FLM do at IBM now other
than check a box? Think 40 done, PA done, PBC's done, claim done, hours plan
done. Do IBMer's really need a babysitter? They charge X% of their time to each
project but what do they really contribute to the goals of a project? #nothing
-No contribution #done-Comment
11/29/14: Rochester STG Contract Employees Furloughed.
Unsure of numbers, Non critical STG contractors furloughed until Jan 5th 2015.
-member of Alliance-Comment
11/29/14: Interesting article about Mr. Buffet's
investment in IBM.http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/investing/shares/11262328/Terry-Smith-Is-this-the-next-Tesco.html
-16YearsAndCounting-Comment
11/29/14: I recently spent time at some West
Coast tech companies (large ones, not start-ups), including the company that
I went to work for after quitting IBM. The difference in atmosphere is astounding.
I really didn't appreciate just how downtrodden IBM engineers had become over
the years. The vibe I was getting is that products and customers are what matters,
and the only way to excel in those areas was to empower the people that make
them. It felt like HR and Finance were a team with the Engineers and doing everything
they could to allow them to do what they are good at and remove any obstacles
slowing them down. I even spoke to a CFO who said he didn't focus on the share
price, but was more concerned about the pipeline of products as they meant long
term sustainability rather than one quarters numbers. I speak to people still
at IBM who tell me their managers say "it's like this everywhere"
when they complain, but from my experience, that's not true.-Refreshing-Comment
11/28/14: No matter how many shrines IBM builds
in NYC to promote the Watson Platform, or delve into CAMSS, it is bound to fail.
One thing I noticed about business is that there are basic fundamental things
that have to be in place for business to succeed long term such as respect for
the employee and honourable management. IBM management is juvenile in thinking
Cloud and Watson will save them without fixing fundamental, cultural and organizational
problems. Thinking about the intangibles and fixing them takes intelligence
and hurts the brain. It is easier to put together a fancy website.
Also Cloud is a race to the bottom. Watson technology will be made redundant
by other entrants that will come forth and dominate. IBM will not be able to
compete with them. Like the city of New Orleans, it has serious, fundamental
problems that need to be taken care of but ignored such as corruption and injustice.
This is my opinion only.-foo-Comment
11/27/14: As far as first line managers and lack
of education go. Many.. many are in a technicial management position without
a lick of technical background and little other education either. The issue
is with me ( I'm in a tech position) is my manager just doesn't "get"
the issues we have to deal with. She's so into charts and graphs, that's all
that counts... not how to manage our workload in an intelligent way. -Vermonter-Comment
11/26/14: Just got the news that IBM announced
furlough today. Does anyone have more info on that? -jim bob-Comment
11/26/14: @N0NYm0U$- One should also ask how
many of the 4000 were US based applicants and how many passed the test. This
seems to be quite is a fair way to assess any candidate. -Bob-Comment
11/26/14: Happy Thanksgiving to all. I would
be more happier if I knew I had a union contract! Why can't we make it happen
before the year end holidays are just a memory as possibly our IBM career? A
contract can try to protect ourselves in some way from the next RA.-Vote4UnionContract-
Alliance reply: While we understand your passion, the reality is that there
is no way to get a union contract before the end of the year or the next RA.
This is a process that has many levels: organizing, majority sign ups, petitioning
the government for a vote, the back and forth between the union and the company
and the government.... and then if everything goes right the vote takes place.
And by the way we have to win the vote before we can negotiate a contract.
Lots of work and few willing to push it forward.
In the meantime, the Alliance can represent the issues of IBM workers and challenge
the company before the vote. Comment
11/26/14:-T2R2013- I agree with you.
I spoke to one of the MoneySmart"advisers" one time and quickly determined
these were kids straight out of college that knew way less than me about financial
matters. -longtimebeemer-Comment
11/26/14: IBM GTS UK (formerly ITS) have announced
a consultation period today. -AngryMan-Comment
11/26/14: To -Big Bob- I know of first
line managers without college degrees. We had one manager who bragged about
her drug and alcohol abuse to a few of us. She never came to work; she worked
from sametime. She couldn't read or write everyone had to do her work for her.
If you said anything about her you were fired. We went to HR and reported her
and the ones that reported her were RA'D (blatant retaliation)and she got by
with it. See upper management will use idiots as first line managers to do their
dirty work. Better join the union if you haven't. -Glad to be gone
2013-Comment
11/26/14: As a portfolio in gts, I see that a
major restructuring is coming to Brazil in 1st quarter. Do you know what GTS
new director plans for Brazil? the morale here is too slow. It seems that IBM
is inducing employees to ask for the pink slip in order to avoid more severances.
The new hr tool has an option for the employee to request on how to ask to go
and leave company.i never seen that in my whole life working with so many USA
companies? Someone from brazil to share some light here? -sabrinaty-Comment
11/26/14: The Tech Worker Shortage Doesn't Really
Exist --http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-11-24/the-tech-worker-shortage-doesnt-really-exist"The real issue, say Salzman and others, is the industry's desire
for lower-wage, more-exploitable guest workers, not a lack of available American
staff."Yep, article lays-out the truth in no uncertain
terms. -@N0NYm0U$-Comment
11/26/14:@Ex IBMer - I am no longer
" 'hoping' IBM will change and revert back to recognizing the value of
its human resource..."
I am only hoping for a full RA package. -Mark1-Comment
11/26/14: About to be RA'd: "If an RA comes
in Jan, what should I expect for severance?"
Expect NOTHING. Then you won't be surprised. Cannot believe you even had to
ask this question. WE DON'T HAVE A CONTRACT!!!!!!-Anon
in Boulder-Comment
11/25/14: IBM's Watson gets new coworkers --http://www.cnbc.com/id/102204788"IBM's Watson computing system is shown during a press
conference in Yorktown Heights, N.Y., in this Jan. 13, 2011 photo.
Getty Images IBM's Watson computing system is shown during a press conference
in Yorktown Heights, N.Y., in this Jan. 13, 2011 photo.
IBM's Watson is getting some new co-workers. The tech giant recently went on
the hunt for talent to help boost its super computing system, which defeated
"Jeopardy" champions more than three years ago.
The company, which received almost 4,000 applications, decided to approach the
hiring process in an nontraditional way. Chosen candidates answered a series
of questions on video, and then participated in tasks such as building exercises
and a scavenger hunt."
Of the 4000 resumes, I wonder how many were from H1B-holding applicants &
overseas based applicants? -@N0NYm0U$-Comment
11/25/14:-About to be RA'd?- Or rather
if we can organize and have enough of a majority for a vote early next year
what will my union contract look like? It will be MUCH, MUCH better having a
contract than what you are getting for working for IBM now!-IBMUnionNow-Comment
11/25/14:@longtimebeemer: Well, that's
how we found out that MoneySmart advisers really aren't "money smart".
Moral of the story- get a "second opinion" when using them. We are
OK otherwise, but the health insurance issue was very disappointing (to be kind).
-T2R2013-Comment
11/25/14: Are there really mass firings in India?
50K is the number I read. Why is no one posting about that? Last time, there
were many many postings about the callous RA's in India. -Really?-
Alliance reply: We posted the aricle on our front
page in the Articles section (right side). The date of the article is 11/04/14.
There is also a comment posted on 11/06/14 in this section, by -workforce_fried-Comment
11/25/14: To -About to be RA'ed-, I
know ex-IBMers who were RA'ed and received 1 week of salary for each 6 months
of service. They were both part of an acquisition that occurred 8 years prior
to the RA. Thus, they received 4 months of salary as severance. However, I do
believe there is a maximum of 6 months severance. Nevertheless, IBM is not legally
obligated to provide you with any severance or notice. I think RA'ed victims
are bribed into signing waivers to receive the severance. -Anonymous-Comment
11/25/14: To -Big Bob- I know for a
fact that there are first and second line and directors who worked for different
divisions in IBM that have had no college degrees and some of them have no college
courses at all. I could name who they are but I wont. IBM management is made
up of the good old boy network and politics. That is the trouble with IBM management.
No respect for the employees and constantly wanting to give the employees the
shaft. IBM management is in desperate need of a union. -Big Don-Comment
11/25/14: As a dues paying member since 2008
I would like to ask the ALLIANCE a question. Why doesn't IBM have to follow
the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 when determing FHA eligibility?
AGE: The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended, protects
applicants and employees 40 years of age or older from discrimination based
on age in hiring, promotion, discharge, pay, fringe benefits, job training,
classification, referral, and other aspects of employment.
If you apply the law it seems anyone 40 years and older with 15 years service
should be eligible for their FHA upon leaving IBM for Global Foundries. By the
way this law is posted on bulletin boards across the Burlington site and suspect
the same should be true in EF. I have gone to Burlington HR to discuss but received
a cookie cutter response that IBM does not discriminate and follows all laws,
regulations. Any comments?Steve Dragosljvich, BurlingtonComment
11/25/14: I think a major part of the issue is
that employees are"hoping" IBM will change and revert back to recognizing
the value of its human resource. Not going to happen. Sadly IBM serves Wall
Street and that is the only stakeholder that matters. You want to matter, join
the Alliance. If not then perhaps you have choosen your fate. -Ex
IBMer-Comment
11/24/14: Stock goes up on rumor that Icahn wants
to dump IBM management.http://www.benzinga.com/media/cnbc/14/11/5034263/report-false-icahn-rumor-moves-ibmReport: False Icahn Rumor Moves IBM
John Seward, Benzinga Staff Writer November 24, 2014 3:17 PM

International Business Machines Corp.'s (NYSE: IBM) 2
percent gain earlier Monday was touched off by a false rumor that activist investor
Carl Icahn had been buying shares, a CNBC TV reporter said. Citing unnamed sources,
the report at about 2:30 p.m. ET, said Icahn"has absolutely no involvement
in IBM."
Sources tell me @Carl_C_Icahn has absolutely no involvement in $IBM. Stock had
moved earlier on rumor that he did. -anon-Comment
11/24/14: STS UK organisation enter into voluntary
separation package leave date is 5th Febuary Involuntary same date -Road
kill Uk-Comment
11/24/14:-T2R2013- I also am using
the FHA money as quickly as possible for the same reason as you. I don't understand
how your FHA expenses increased to the point that you now don't have enough
money to fulfill your original plan. The FHA amounts I saw for 2015 are exactly
the same as they were for 2013 and 2014. I think your advisor may have miscalculated
how long it would last. -longtimebeemer-Comment
11/24/14:-Over55-, I was RA'd in March
2012 at age 57. I took the year of IBM-paid COBRA then paid for six months of
COBRA myself. Instead of using FHA funds, my wife and I bought a "bronze"
policy through the ACA exchange ("ObamaCare"). With only my pension
check as income, we received a substantial assist with the monthly premium.
That's the good news. The bad news is that with the exception of preventative
care, the first $12,000 of medical expenses this year (and $14,000 next year)
is completely out of pocket. It's really just catastrophic insurance; but, I'm
grateful...before the ACA we couldn't have gotten private insurance, and the
private insurance then available would still allow for us to be bankrupted in
the case of a major expense like cancer. My strategy is to hope that the FHA
funds stay in place, and then use them for Medicare supplemental insurance.-RA'd and Retired in 2012-Comment
11/24/14: If an RA comes in Jan, what should
I expect for severance? -About to be RA'd?-Comment
11/24/14: This board loses credibility when folks
are allowed to post statements like "most IBM managers don't have college
degrees". That has not been true for 20 years, maybe 30. I doubt a
B6 or higher manager has been hired in 25 years without a degree. If so, it's
a rarity. -Big Bob-
Alliance reply: See the comment and our reply, below. We post comments from
our visitors, that are primarily opinion based, many times. We don't necessarily
endorse EVERY opinion as representing Alliance@IBM's. Therefore, credibility
is attached only to the comment's author. Our position is and has been the same
for 15 years: Regardless of what and how IBM management intends to operate;
Alliance@IBM advocates for IBM workers and for a contract between unionized
IBM workers and the IBM corporation, agreed to in writing.Comment
11/24/14: Not only do most IBM managers and executives
have no college, they display and have no integrity left and loyalty to their
employees. They also display no organizational skills. Most of them have learned
to be deceitful while attending their manager training at Armonk. This is why
IBM needs a union. To get rid of the lies and deceit. I agree, This era of managers
and executives are no TJ Watson. -ANA-
Alliance reply: Apparently, the lack of statistical evidence, of your comment,
that "most IBM managers and executives have no college" seems to be
controversial. However, the lack of integrity and loyalty by IBM management
would most probably be agreed upon by anyone that has worked at IBM. We appreciate
your comments of advocacy for a union contract to protect IBM workers. Thank
you for your continued support.Comment
11/23/14: Insightful observation in Forbes."This week IBM announced the signing of a deal with Lufthansa
for $1.25 billion. Over 7 years that is $178.6 million per year. In the spreadsheet
on this page I have collected IBM's revenue from services (both its Global Technology
and Global Business divisions) for the last 4 years. I've estimate the year
end numbers for 2014 and converted the revenue lost to the number of equivalent
Lufthansa deals. Over the last 3 years IBM has lost 24.4 Lufthansa-sized deals.
Every six weeks IBM loses a Lufthansa-size customer."http://www.forbes.com/sites/robertcringely/2014/11/19/death-of-the-ibm-salesman/
-Anon-Comment
11/23/14: Does not matter how many are resourced.
The problems will persist as the management layer is dysfunctional. It needs
to be streamlined. Just walk through Blue Pages and see how many VP's and executives
there are. There is so much overlap and redundancy. -Ginny Tookus-Comment
11/23/14: What is the difference in benefit being
RAd vs Retired? -Anon-
Alliance reply: There are many factors that make the difference. You may want
to ask this question on our IBM Retirees
comment section, OR review the comments on this comments page and the Archives
re: retirement and/or RA in circumstances where someone anticipating an RA,
is retirement eligible.Comment
11/23/14: Unfortunately there is no honor, integrity
or trust that is why the ship is sinking. Too many cooks spoil the broth. Hopefully
GF will look into the good old boy network and change things around.
-Anon-Comment
11/23/14: Received notice from my contracting
company yesterday that for the month of December I'll be "receiving"
a 28.5% per hour salary reduction. I'm not an IBM'er, just a subcontractor.
-Albert-Comment
11/22/14:'US cuts only 12% of work force'Even ONE person RAed is TOO MUCH! (Unless it is Ginni) Join the
Alliance now, PLEASE! Let's TRY to do something to stop this IBM implosion.-IBMUnionNow-Comment
11/22/14: Another reason the RA didn't happen
in 4q is that the empress wants to first see how many abused employees leave
on their own, saving money for the Corp. Plus the 600 million set aside for
layoffs in 2015 hasn't kicked in yet and the 2014 funds were used. We'll see
two waves of exodus, one voluntary in Dec after folks get their 401k match,
then the firings in Jan. -HereItComes-Comment
11/21/14:-Anon2- is incorrect about
statements on how accrued vacation works at IBM. The manager separation tool
automatically prorates the number of eligible vacation days for the manager.
All the manager does is enter the actual number taken between Jan 1 and the
separation date. If it's less than the prorated accrual, you get a second vacation
check in addition to your last paycheck. If it's more than the prorated accrual,
then the difference is taken out of your final check. However, Personal Choice
Holidays (usually six) are NOT counted or prorated. You get those on Jan 1 and
they're use 'em or lose 'em. So use them first! Log your first six days off
of the year in vacation planner (and ILC, if applicable) as Personal Holidays,
and only THEN start using your vacation. -How Vacation Works-Comment
11/21/14: Reliable source says US cuts only 12%
of work force. Plans do however include almost 100% cuts in Chicago for SPSS
with pretty much everything moving to Canada or India in "maintenance"
mode. Stats and modeler are being killed off. -Jello Biafra-Comment
11/21/14: Since we just finished the 2nd "annual"
Engagement Survey, I thought I'd post my experience last year.
Results were never reported in my business unit. Then, a few months after the
survey, I got an e-mail from a company IBM had hired to do a "deeper dive."
About 25 people were on the call I attended. Questions were in five categories:
1)Feeling Valued,
2) Opportunity for Growth,
3) Inclusion,
4)Future Vision & Alignment, and
5) Communications, Ethics & Trust.
The responses were scathing and I joined in. I hoped the "deeper dive"
meant mgmt was serious about improvements, but no such luck.
However, I've also had no repercussions about my answers, -- a dinosaur-Anonymous-Comment
11/21/14:"If you notice in IBM, most
managers do not have college degrees, yet they want their employees to update
skills. IBM management is based on the "good old boy" network and
nothing else. Join the union to stop this BS."-ANA-BTW, you don't have to have a college degree to be a good manager. You
have to have high EQ (emotional intelligence), be able to relate to human beings,
and have organizational skills. You also have to have honour and integrity,
so people are willing to trust you and follow you. That's it. Most IBM mangers
do not. TJ Watson did not have a college degree. Tom Jr. barely made it out
of college. They were the greatest managers of all time. -TJ-Comment
11/21/14: RAs have come to the UK. All departments
under immediate threat and non-disclosure confidentiality clauses. Meanwhile
Ginni has sold all this year's share options just before announcing the ship
was sinking. See http://tinyurl.com/paeqprd
Her fellow 'executives' did likewise. See http://tinyurl.com/RatsGoFirst
-OnThinIce-Comment
11/21/14: Seems like some layoffs are coming
in the sales ans technical sales areas. Two in my group have already "transferred"
and two more are interviewing now. That's over half of the TSS team.
-Nanya Biznes-Comment
11/21/14:-littlepaleblue- You rarely
see a big layoff in the 4th quarter because the savings is just not enough.
The senior execs issue a "challenge" that a certain group has to reduce
their spending by x amount of money for the year. If they layoff in December
they only get 1/12th of the cost of that person for the year towards that goal.
If they layoff in January they get the cost of that person for the full year
towards that goal. That is why you will see most big layoffs done in the first
quarter. You might get smaller ones later in the year but rarely in Q4.
-longtimebeemer-Comment
11/21/14:"UK IBM software group just
announced consultation for 30 days. Staff hopefully cut will be with fat management
layer, not a nice Christmas present!" What does this mean? Thank
you -anonymous-Comment
11/20/14: If you notice in IBM, most managers
do not have college degrees, yet they want their employees to update skills.
IBM management is based on the "good old boy" network and
nothing else. Join the union to stop this BS. -ANA-Comment
11/20/14:"IBM is a company that takes
away their employees civil rights through EMPLOYEE FORCED ARBITRATION."Well, yes, actually being an "At Will" employee means
the USA Bill of Rights does NOT ACTUALLY apply when you work for a corporation
(like IBM). It is true. That is why employees unionize to get workplace rights
spelled out in a contract!
-da_facts-
Alliance reply: Correct. And to elaborate re: Bill Of Rights; it is important
for every American to know that when they are on "private property";
such as their employer's office or manufacturing building, their "freedom"
of speech, right to assemble, etc. does not apply. The "rights" that
protect employees of a company such as "speech" and "assembly",
etc. are part of the National Labor Relations Act of 1938. The NLRB is the organization
that operates as a neutral body to review complaints and practcies of unions
AND employers to determine if any actions by EITHER unions or employers have
violated any of the sections of the NLRA regulation. If employees believe that
their "labor rights" have been violated; but they take no action to
organize or unionize or file complaints, then the company wins by default. Comment
11/20/14: Is IBM Suddenly Vulnerable To A Takeover?http://seekingalpha.com/article/2695415-is-ibm-suddenly-vulnerable-to-a-takeover
-Anon-Comment
11/20/14: I created the RA'D by IBM T-Shirts
if any present, past or future IBM'er would like to purchase one go to this
link http://www.cafepress.com/behorn60tshirt. Remember showing RA'd visually
in numbers will let people know what is going on. I still would suggest joining
the union. Jobless for almost 1 year now. -Glad to be gone 2013-Comment
11/20/14: For those who will be losing their
jobs in the next few months, pay attention to where you stand on vacation. While
we've all heard that it's use-it-or-lose-it, the accounting when you're RA'd
is a little different. You've actually earned all of the previous year's vacation
and IBM has to pay you for it. (If you stay with IBM, they just limit how much
new vacation you earn the next year.) At the extreme, if you get 20 days of
vacation and take none of it this year, and, IBM dismisses you on Jan 2, they
will pay you for those 20 days. In practice, must people only miss 5-10 days,
but they're entitled to those, plus any earned for the partial year.
-Anon2-Comment
11/20/14: When I retired at the end of May 2013
(T2R and happy), my adviser figured that my FHA would last until 2 months of
my 65th birthday. Well, surprise, surprise for 2015 - not going to even come
close to that target because of expense. So, spouse (Medicare eligible) and
I decided for 2015 to get the super expensive low deductible, save our own cash,
and spend down the FHA account as much as possible, since it probably will go
away. We decided we'd deal with 2016 in another way. It breaks my heart to think
of all the broken promises. At this point, I am so embarrassed to be associated
with IBM that when people ask me what I did before I retired, I just tell them
I was with a large technology company. -T2R 2013-Comment
11/20/14: Cringely hits the nail on the head
again in this article titled "Death of the (IBM) Salesman.http://www.forbes.com/sites/robertcringely/2014/11/19/death-of-the-ibm-salesman/
-CJ-Roc-Comment
11/20/14: FHA - magic numbers are 15 years of
service, age 55. If either one is missing, you lose it. -gone in
'13-Comment
11/20/14:-littlePaleBlue-, in "At-Will
Employment" states, an employer can terminate any employee for any reason
(except for race, nationality, age, etc.) or no reason at all, without notice.
IBM need only pay due wages and any vacation accruals. The 30-day notice was
just a "generous" gesture by IBM, but it is not legally required.
IBMers are not out of the woods yet. Yes, it would make financial sense for
IBM to RA employees before December 15, but then maybe there is a Public Relations
cost consideration that management is considering. -Steve-
Alliance reply: You are correct re: At Will Employment. IBM has never really
been impacted by "public relations" costs, when it comes to firing
people. What is needed, are IBMers to unite and organize toward a collective
employment contract. Once that is achieved, "At Will Employment" no
longer applies to unionized IBMers.Comment
11/20/14:-sbywillie- The FHA account
only applies if you have 30 years AND are 55 years old. If you have, for example,
32 years and leave IBM when you are 53, you do not receive the benefit of your
FHA account. Most people aren't aware of this nuance. I know I wasn't until
I researched it. -Anon-Comment
11/20/14: Over55 is correct. With these rates
your FHA may cover you and your spouse for 2 to 3 years. I retired at 59 and
my FHA will run out between the age of 63 to 64 just covering me only. Thankfully
my spouse can go on her own insurance retirement plan which will cost her about
$200.00 a month. -Use Your FHA or Lose It-Comment
11/20/14: How do they determine the resource
actions when some managers, being managers for so long did not go back and finish
their education in this so called competitive world that needs updated skills
all the time. Maybe that's why all the good employees are gone.
-Anon-Comment
11/20/14: It appears that since no RA was announced
on 11/14/14 (one would figure IBM would do one at this date since 30 days out
to employment separation date means they don't have to match 401k for those
IBM resource participants) that the standard separation package will change.
IBM is in too big a mess right now trying to make 4th QTR numbers not look bad
and spent plenty of Armonk effort on the EFK/BTV plant sale to GF (BTW,Abu Dabai
is a big stakeholder in GF and they get the NY State StartupNY tax breaks for
10 years) they apparently will have to RA either in December or more likely
early 2015. The longer you wait to not unionize the worse it is gonna get. That
is a fact jack! -littlePaleBlue-Comment
11/20/14: A lot of us are going to lose our jobs
in the next few months. Be prepared and make it as hard as possible for the
evil empire by reading the GREAT checklist provided here by the Alliance http://www.endicottalliance.org/news/survival.htm.
And contribute something, this list is worth a contribution alone! I have to
laugh, now that this news is out, we're being hammered by even more desperate
emails saying "Read my blog!" since everyone's value is being measured
by blogging. So even less productivity, half the workforce is spending time
creating useless blogs, the other half spending their time reading or deleting.
Where's this wonderful new email product? Apparently not worthwhile enough for
IBM's own employees! -WaitingForACallFromMyManager-Comment
11/20/14:-ANA- I was laid off due to
age discrimination. 4 of us were RA'd in our dept, all in our 50's and 60's.
I'm still not sure how they are making age discrimination legal? The IBMers
that are left better join the union. -Glad To Be Gone 2013-Comment
11/20/14: IBM is a company that takes away their
employees civil rights through EMPLOYEE FORCED ARBITRATION. Disgusting. -lizzy-Comment
11/20/14: To -sby_willie-, My point
on the FHA was that there is not an asset there to transfer, its just a liability,
and therefore maybe GF does not want to deal with it. Maybe it is all wrapped
up in the 1B+ dollars IBM is to pay GF. It must be in the fine print somewhere.
-TexMex-Comment
11/19/14: from a newspaper article over the weekend..."Most
big employers can expect only a moderate increase in their health insurance
burden next year ? about 3.9 percent according to Mercer, the benefits consultant...."Well, not at IBM. My same plan as last year will now cost me 26% more thanks
to the greed of IBM executives. Roadkill 2015 is still alive and kicking no
matter what Ginny says.-Tired
of Ginny-Comment
11/19/14:-Over55-I
hear ya! It stinks. I had 29 years in with IBM and was only 54 years old when
forced out of IBM and asked to "retire" by IBM..then I told my manager
them I am not retirement eligible since I would lose my FHA. Guess what? I got
RAed instead. What is really rotten is those that got RAed at 54 years old and
get NO FHA. That's right.. a big fat O. ZERO. ZILCH. NADA. SHUTOUT. IBM's way
of saying thanks for your many, many years of dedicated employment service and
we care less how you helped made IBM money when you were working now you will
go away.. I should have joined the Alliance when I had a chance so I would not
just go away..-Under55-Comment
11/19/14:@-Anon- RE: Project Chrome.
What's your source for this info? Any other details about which business units
will be hit? 23% is a TON of people. that's scary. And only 4 weeks severance
is also scary. -Trey-Comment
11/19/14: i was contacted by my manager that
i did not have enough utilization i have tried to get on several projects but
having been promoted to level 9 against my will, was not $ competitive against
offshore/landed level 8s doing the same job the letter suggested?.. if i can
get on a project within a few weeks, and show high utilization and a great PA,
i could keep my job. if i resigned, i would be given severance plus 6 months
assistance on medical insurance. if i did not resign, and did not meet their
requirements, i could be let go without any benefits. if you get such a letter,
save it off-line. it will be helpful when you apply for unemployment and ibm
claims you left on your own. -mark mywords-Comment
11/19/14: I am old plan and will transition to
GF after retiring and I recently spoke to Fidelity and was told that the FHA
will be available to use if needed once you retire from GF. So you do not lose
those funds according to what I was recently told. -GF bound-Comment
11/18/14:-ItsATrap- ... it is not that
that IBM is refusing to release the shares ... the shares that are not shown
as available are used to cover withholding against the income tax liability
created at the time the shares vest. -FinancialGenius-Comment
11/18/14: Microsoft AND Oracle Are Now More Valuable
Than IBM.http://www.businessinsider.com/microsoft-oracle-more-valuable-than-ibm-2014-11
-anon-Comment
11/18/14: New resource action underway - Project
Chrome. Overall company target is 23% of US resources will be impacted. Separation
payments limited to 4 weeks. Resources to be notified in mid January will separation
in February. Bigger is question is how does IBM support current and new customers
with this reduced workforce. Interesting enough, no senior manager higher than
a director is impacted. Merry Christmas-Anonymous-Comment
11/18/14:-TexMex- Steve D. and I know
that the FHA is not real money, as most if not all Alliance members know, BUT
the vast majority of IBMers and retirees (I'd say over 75%) think that it is
real money and making 30 years means you get the FHA automatically regardless
of age at termination or retirement. I do appreciate your emphasis in stating
FHA is not real money, but just credits: like poker chips, or the old S&H
green stamps. Maybe folks will finally understand this!? Surely IBM HR will
not finally make it clear what the FHA is and is not.-sby_willie-Comment
11/18/14: UK IBM software group just announced
consultation for 30 days. Staff hopefully cute will be with fat management layer,
not a nice Christmas present!! -Anonymous-Comment
11/18/14: Looking at Plan year 2015 for Retiree
Medical Plan using my so called lifetime FHA benifits. Its criminal how IBM
can charge these rates and not let you shop on the open market for a plan. With
around 40k in my pocket with a ibm hole in it the rates are as follows for self
+1 per month:
IBM High Ded PPO Anthem $1196.76.
IBM Med Ded PPO Anthem $1431.24
IBM Low Ded PPO Anthem $1945.42
High Ded PPO with HSA $1381.36
IBM EPO Anthem $1639.88.
This doesn't even count adding Dental. Another IBM lie. After spending most
of my working life with IBM, this is my reward. Ibm had really stuck it to the
people who made Ibm once a great company to work for. I wish a news corporation
would put this out for everyone to know. Ibm belongs on the wall of shame.
-Over55-Comment
11/18/14: RA hit in GTS US.Not sure how many
impacted -donetryin-Comment
11/17/14: Dear Steve D., please realize that
there is no real money in the FHA accounts. They are "notational"
accounts only. IBM has to cough up the money each quarter from earnings as charges
come into the FHA accounts. So that means that GF would likewise have to do
the same or put real money into the FHA up front. So you are likely correct
that the FHA's will not transfer to GF. More liabilities removed from IBM. Even
if over 55, its unclear what may happen there. -TexMex-Comment
11/17/14:-Anon- You are incorrect.
All the rebates are still available. You'd know this had you bothered to read
the information that was sent to your home (pages 15 - 17). I don't use IBM
medical but I took a few minutes to look it over and I already qualified for
a $150 rebate in 2015. The rebate options vary based on what medical coverage
one chooses but personal vitality and physical activity are there for all. I'd
suggest you read the information that was sent to you.-Steve Dragosljvich- GF will be picking up, to some extent, the
FHA of persons who have not yet met eligibility at the time of the transition
from IBM to GF. How much so remains to be seen.
"GLOBALFOUNDRIES will determine the overall value of the outstanding account
balances at the time of close. Considerations for any replacement amounts will
include the number of years remaining until these balances would have become
vested in absence of this transaction, the timing of when these amounts would
likely be paid and the means of providing any replacement amounts." -Jim-Comment
11/17/14: For those of you looking for the health
rebates for open enrollment. In the enrollment email you got you have to go
to the Health and wellness connections community link. Then click on earn incentives.
The instructions to earn the encentives are there. You don't sign up for them
on the open enrollment page. Hope this clears it up for you. -Anonymous-Comment
11/17/14: Interesting article. No expectations
here that the stock will rebound!http://www.columbian.com/news/2014/nov/15/ibm-stuck-in-the-ways-of-the-1950s/
-16YearsAndCounting-Comment
11/17/14: Apparently Morgan Stanley has been
getting lots of calls from IBMers who have shares that vested but haven't been
released yet by the company, making them unavailable to exercise. I bet Ginny
and her crew didn't have that problem when they exercised their zero cost options.
Just the poor working men/women trying to get the measly few bucks out of the
well devalued company stock (thanks to the aforementioned). Can't wait to see
the exodus when people get their shares sold and 401k match and say buh-bye
IBM. We lost some good people last year just after Dec 15. I'd like to be one
of them this year. The rich keep getting richer, organize! -ItsATrap-Comment
11/17/14: re: the $300 incentives ... from a
link in the sign-up email, you get to the Health and Wellness Connections Community.
From there is a link to the incentives page:https://w3-connections.ibm.com/wikis/home?lang=en-us#!/wiki/W0ca002a1e1f2_49a5_86d8_a21d89aa4356/page/Earn%20incentives
-SKA-Comment
11/17/14: Seems there is no other way to sell
services apart from some sort of sale fraud?http://gadgets.ndtv.com/telecom/news/iusacells-25-billion-lawsuit-against-ibm-put-on-hold-622080
-sales_fraud-Comment
11/17/14: Regarding the vitality rebates - I
too thought they were discontinued, they ARE NOT selectable during online enrollment
as in past years. So I went back and double-checked the benefit documents for
this year. They are still mentioned in the benefit documentation
PDFs. I do not have the specific wording from them, but it was something of
the effect that we will be able to enroll with them through the Wellness for
Life website at the beginning of the year. I am still somewhat skeptical this
will be the case at the beginning of the year, but wanted to try to help clarify
issue. -new2rchland-Comment
11/17/14:-Kept in the Dark- The incentives
for 2015 are still there, but you don't have to choose at signup time. Everyone
gets to chose them no matter which options you choose. The details are in the
Guide to 2015 IBM Benefits Enrollment for Active Employees on page 17. The Fitbit
choice is also still there as well. -HP-Comment
11/17/14: To -Anon- and others asking about the
missing health rebate incentives: Sorry for giving -Anon- grief, since apparently
IBM did make it harder to find those incentives this year - instead of choosing
them when enrolling on NetBenefits as before, you do it separately on the incentive
program web sites in 2015. The benefits enrollment e-mail sent on 11/11 contained
a link to a new Health and Wellness Connections Community with 2015 benefits
info, and that page has a link to another page about earning incentives, which
includes details on the healthy living rebates and other options for 2015. There's
too much to post here, but employees can see the info athttps://w3-connections.ibm.com/wikis/home?lang=en-us#!/wiki/W0ca002a1e1f2_49a5_86d8_a21d89aa4356/page/Earn%20incentivesI suggest you review that info before enrolling, because some
of the incentives depend on which medical plan you choose.-Survivor-Comment
11/15/14: TPP, worse than NAFTA:http://www.cwa-union.org/issues/entry/c/trans-pacific_free_trade_agreement#.VGaKxMl1HQk
-Alliance-Comment
11/15/14: A U.S. judge on Friday put on hold
a $2.5 billion lawsuit by Mexican mobile phone operator Iusacell SA de CV accusing
IBM Corp of fraudulent misrepresentations, citing a pending arbitration launched
by the U.S. technology giant.http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/11/14/ibm-mexico-idUSL2N0T42XE20141114-anon-Comment
11/15/14: Dear Survivor, I believe it am correct.
Both the physical activity and personal vitality rebate appear to not be available.
They are not listed as options this year but were on last years benefit listings.
If these programs do exist where do you find them? -Anon-Comment
11/15/14: I guess Wal-Mart workers are striking
and they are trying to keep it out of the news. Maybe IBMer's should follow
suit and join a union an strike while they have jobs.http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/11/watch-police-in-riot-gear-arrest-california-walmart-workers-during-sit-in-over-wages-firings/
-Glad to be gone 2013-Comment
11/15/14: ATTENTION IBM SHEEP at Burlington and
EF. If you will be part of the IBM to Global Foundries transistion in 2015 please
read and understand the following. EVERYONE UNDER 55 YEARS OLD on the cash balance
pension plan will lose their FHA account, REGARDLESS the years of IBM service.
This is a fact. GF may or may not pick it up. If you don't mind losing your
FHA do nothing but please stop complaining. If you are concerned it is in your
best interest to schedule a one on one meeting with your site HR to discuss
"The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967." Letters to State
Senators, Govenor explaining what IBM is doing to their employees would also
be quite beneficial. If you are reading this post and considered joining the
ALLIANCE now is the perfect time. -Steve Dragosljvich, Alliance
member since 2008-Comment
11/15/14: Power cloud, a rearrangement of the
deck chairs on the titanic. It's being run by K. Nallapati and co. The same
exec team who sank AIX after years at the head with no clear direction or investment.
-Inside scoop-Comment
11/15/14: As usual we are in the dark on the
$300 incentives. In past years we chose our options on the netbenefits enrollment
page. This year those options are indeed missing. No clue if there will be some
different method to sign up... I saw nothing out there providing any detail.
They did have the options to declare whether we smoke or not tho...
-Kept in the dark...-
Alliance reply: Anyone being "kept in the dark" , can easily decide
to seek the light and find out things on their own. And if help is needed, Alliance
can be there to give information and tools to organize IBM US workers so that
these kinds of IBM corporate favored and anti-employee manipulations can be
eliminated with a union contract. FYI...food
for thought.Comment
11/14/14:--Glad To Be Gone 2013- I
was laid off by IBM because of age discrimination, yet Ginnni can become member
of Augusta National because she firmly believes that there should be no sex
discrimination in the workplace and in any organization. We don't want to upset
Ginni. -ANA-Comment
11/14/14: Canadagirl we had so many resignations
in AP that the planned RA has proved unnecessary! This is what the "business"
relies on. A mass RA, denied payrises, lower pay than the market, constant battle
cries for values that aren't practiced, no communication and unachievable kpi
targets will usually drive a massive natural turnover. People are voting with
their feet. Often into the arms of clients - and guess what - they hate us when
they get there. And do everything they can to hurt us. And many will because
I know a few who were treated very badly and had family breakdowns due to the
pressure IBM managers put them under. Remember you are a resource not a person,
an exposure not an asset and a cost not a contributor. And many dont forgive
that.-BlueMax-Comment
11/14/14: How could non US employees contribute
to you? I am from India and alliance@IBM discussion board is the only trusted
source of information for workers. There is no union in India nor do I think
there is any effort anywhere to make one here in India. In any case, I want
to express my thanks for the stellar efforts you are doing to organise. Is it
possible for someone not in IBM US to be part of Alliance? Thanks
-IndiaIBMer-
Alliance reply: The best way for you to help Alliance would be to go to our
donate page and make a donation of your choice. You are correct that there is
no union in India, for now; but we are working on linking IBM India workers
with a similar Alliance type organization.
Thank you for your support of our efforts to keep IBM workers all over the world,
informed.
There is a link
on the right column of this page.Comment
11/14/14: I'm so glad Ginni got her green golf
jacket.http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-11-14/rometty-s-augusta-green-jacket-seen-coming-too-late-for-change.html We wouldn't want her upset with any kind of sex discrimination
going on at the Augusta Nation Gulf Club. Since IBM's is great at their age
discrimination lol when it comes to RA'D. -Glad To Be Gone 2013-Comment
11/14/14:-Anon-: You said: "Annual
enrollment for medical and other benefits has started. Apparently the incentives
to exercise have been eliminated. Another $300 of benefits gone and not one
sentence in the enrollment packages about this."That's not correct. Apparently you didn't look at the enrollment materials
before you posted this. Please don't post "facts" that you don't know
to be true. There are already plenty of real issues for people to be upset about.
-Survivor-
Alliance reply: So what are the "facts" that imply what you know?
If you are going to disagree with -Anon's statements, and you want Alliance
to post those disagreements, then you need to include the information that you
claim is correct, from the enrollment materials.Comment
11/14/14: Have the RAs begun today as predicted
by some? I have not heard of anything... unfortunately the resignations continue.
-canadiangirl-Comment
11/14/14: Nice stock sale at/before Labor Day,
Ginni! Gotta admire your usual PERFECT TIMING! So we'll all pay for it before
YE 2014 with another (ahem) RA??? Can the Alliance ask the SEC to investigate
her? Rometty is just another Martha Stewart in a corporate CEO wrinkled skirt!
We need a UNION NOW! Please join everyone!-InsiderTrading?-Comment
11/14/14:-De-Risked- Maybe one of the
union folk can chime in, but I don't think the union can do a think regarding
a retiree who is collecting a pension. Beyond that, I seem to recall that I
signed a piece of paper saying that I retired, and my pension would be XXX per
month.-GF'd- interestingly so, IBM only ditched the wafer fabs, the
capital intensive pieces. I didn't see any mention of the fact that the packaging
and test pieces of the division were sold. -gone in '13-Comment
11/14/14: Former employee here who's wife is
still with IBM. We compared 2015 Benefits last night, and all I can say is OMG.
I work for a small private company now, and last year our benefits were better
than IBM's, so she went under my plan. The cost of my benefits are going down
slightly, while the cost of the IBM plan, which was not competitive in 2014,
is going through the roof. We actually joked about the fact that the Sr. Execs
probably were patting themselves on the back at not including a provision that
all medical benefits have to be paid back to IBM in the event you are no longer
an active employee on Dec 15th. Maybe someone should mention that to Ginny and
whatever puppet is supposedly running IBM HR as a cost savings opportunity for
2016. -Left On My Own Terms In 2013-
Alliance reply: IBM executives and the CEO do not need ideas nor strategies
any more egregiously anti-worker, than they already have in place.
How about recommending that instead, IBMers join forces with their co-workers
and work toward a collective employment contract? What a concept!Comment
11/14/14: Some day today, with probably most
of the company on pins and needles like me. Today makes all the sense in the
world to give employees 30 days notice and get out of paying the 401k match
and get people off the books by the end of the year. The money has been set
aside, the CEO answered directly that it will happen, probably now and then
again in January. Even if it's not today, what are so many IBMers like me doing
all day? Looking for another job, watching this board, sitting anxiously waiting
for a call or visit from their manager, watching the stock, backing up things
from their workstation that they want to take with them or for evidence, despising
the company for putting them through this stress. Is that a productive workforce,
I ask? Join the alliance out of spite, if not for any other reason! -LowMorale-Comment
11/14/14: Annual enrollment for medical and other
benefits has started. Apparently the incentives to exercise have been eliminated.
Another $300 of benefits gone and not one sentence in the enrollment packages
about this. UNREAL! -Anon-
Alliance reply: you need to be more specific and list the details. You are being
challenged in an above comment.Comment
11/14/14: Here is the simple scoop on restricted
shares:
1. They are yours on the vest date only
2. You pay taxes on the total value on the vest date as regular income. This
is typically done by the selling of shares. Therefore 2-3 of the shares will
be sold on the vest date to pay the taxes owed.
3. The remaining shares are now yours on that date. If you hold them it is like
you purchased them at the price the day of vesting. Selling them at a later
date will be subject to standard capital gains taxes.
The short of this is you will get roughly $600-$800 after taxes if you sell
all shares on the vesting date.-Anonymous-Comment
11/14/14:"Looks like IBM's Pension
may be in trouble and not pay its future and current retirees?"Well if IBM goes bankrupt, that is a sure possibility. More likely it *can
happen* this way. It's called pension de-risking. It works like this:
IBM sells the pension trust and the annuities to an insurance company. Then
the pensions are no longer protected by ERISA and IBM no longer has pension
obligations. The pensions can then be reduced, or could even be held from the
pensioners if the insurance company goes bankrupt (where the pension assets
can be used to satisfy creditors in a chapter 11 or worse business liquidation).
If any IBMer with a pension is worried that their pension is at risk, they should
be! Protect yourself by unionizing NOW! A union contract is the only way to
go.-De-Risked-Comment
11/14/14: For the people currently working in
GTS, they are forcing SubK to furlough till the end of the year, and probably
they wont ever comeback. As Mike RoChanel said, GTS management being told to
suggest to retirement eligible employees they should leverage their personal
"exit plan" before year end. -Future-ExIBMer-Comment
11/13/14:@Tex. Your advice regarding
annonymity may be correct, I can't say for certain.But working for IBM is like
taking a bath with the plug pulled out. Sooner or later you will have to stand
up. -RA'd in 2010-Comment
11/13/14: To the point that GBS_AP points out,
the Exec's 'urge' billing extra hours. They don't ask if the customer has additional
work that could be billed, they just expect these hours to be billed which is
falsifying labor reporting to the customer. -TMC-Comment
11/13/14: To further comment on Exec's "urging"
additional billing hours. The same thing happened last year. The directive comes
from your FLM to put the hours in your forecast, then you bill them. This is
a direct falsification of time reporting. -PM-Comment
11/13/14:-downunder- "..Quantas never
crashed.." - Rainman
Quantas knows better when dealing with IBM! Rainman needs to be IBM CEO!-anonymous-Comment
11/13/14: Global Foundaries says East Fishkill
and Essex Junction will be profitable. Then why did IBM sell it to them?
I guess Virginia can't get a loan from Abu Dabai?! -GF'd-Comment
11/13/14: To -Tex-. You are 100% correct,
I was a TA so was in on management meetings... they get together and figure
out everybody they can who gave negative answers on the "selected cooperate
questions". The answer is to UNIONIZE , not keep your head down... just
saying. -Janice-Comment
11/13/14: The survey mostly just asked you to
affirm Ginni's 9 principles. 'do we treasure wild ducks' etc. The back part
is where you are asked if you rate IBM and would recommend to a friend/family
for a job. Scoring low here and making negative comments - you may as well line
yourself up for a RA. Why? Check out the privacy policy button. It takes you
to a general IBM statement on the web. Basically saying we will protect your
data with a managed id. If you think this is anonymous then think again. Better
to avoid as a protest. -Tex-
Alliance reply: So your advice is don't protest and don't make waves, just keep
your head down and the RA's will pass you by, right?
How's that been working for IBMers, so far? Your advice sounds like an FLM's
advice.Are you an FLM?
IBMers should do the opposite, en masse. Don't shut up, SPEAK UP! ..... In large
numbers, too.
The company may not respond to you, or they may RA you, or they may "THINK"
of some other negative anti-worker-profit-only-driven program to put against
you; but they can't ignore you in large groups of IBMers, standing up for themselves!
Besides, Does anyone still working at IBM believe that Corporate *really cares*
what their employees think? Seriously?Comment
11/13/14: Gherson is planning massive RAs between
Thanksgiving and Christmas. Ever year its the same BS at IBM. Executives need
to show a profit at the end. Then they have massive RAs so they can get their
bonus. IBM needs a union. -ANA-Comment
11/13/14: The employee engagement survey is probably
totally anonymous (ie your manager will never see the names). Last year I answered
everything honestly, questions like 'would you recommend ibm as a good place
to work?' I marked 'strongly disagree' and it was never held against me. I received
a promotion and a salary increase this year. Do not be afraid to answer that
survey honestly, it's one of the few ways we can be heard. -canadiangirl
-Comment
11/13/14: Rumour has it that 18% of IM group
in Toronto will be gonzo. Nothing like a great Christmas present from IBM -Crazy
Canuck-Comment
11/13/14: GBS B10 here. US based. Received word
from our Partner that we are issuing PIPs Friday 11/14. 30 days. Do the math.
12/14 is one day before 401k match on 12/15 right? Additionally, all deferred
vacations are to be done away with for workers who have delivered over weekends
etc. and executives are asked to "urge" workers to bill an additional
16 hours to clients prior to EOY. I wonder what the clients would think if they
saw the 16hr billing email? In my opinion, our ethics have been demolished.-GBS_AP-Comment
11/12/14: That $1000 stock is not stock options,
but Restricted Stock Untits (RSUs). I have some as a reward/award back from
when IBM gave a crap about employees. You're granted X number of shares worth
$Y dollars based on the stock (closing?) price of some set date. So $1000 of
IBM stock on whatever date equated to 7 shares. Once vested, you can then sell
those shares for whatever 7*current_stock_price is, probably minus fees and
whatnot. -Gone 2 years and counting-Comment
11/12/14:>> the complex company's
strategy for investors <<Anytime a corporate exec indicates to investors that
their company's strategy for anything is complex.... watch out....
Enron's execs said this... look where they are now (not that I am implying IBM
will suffer the same fate)
Apple never indicates their strategy is complex.... look where they are now...
Just sayin... -Anonymous-Comment
11/12/14: Bloomberg nails IBM again: What Would
an IBM 3.0 Look Like?http://www.bloomberg.com/video/what-would-an-ibm-3-0-look-like-_UAyVnDnTyOu2REPBfn5hg.html-Anon-Comment
11/12/14: IBM Loses Quantas Business. Qantas
has moved its core Oracle-based ERP platform out of IBM's Sydney data centre
in favour of a new software-as-a-service model hosted by Macquarie Telecom,
as part of its push to cut $2 billion out of its costs in three years. IBM -
Qantas? key data centre partner since 2004 - had hosted the airline?s Oracle
E-Business Suite R11 platform out of its Sydney data centre, with Tata Consultancy
Services providing application support, until May this year.http://www.itnews.com.au/News/397744,qantas-moves-erp-out-of-ibm-and-into-mactel.aspx-downunder-Comment
11/12/14: Gherson's note did not say the survey
was anonymous.. it said it was confidential. Caveat emptor. -Big
Bob-Comment
11/12/14: I received the internal survey this
week, with assurances that it is anonymous 'due to concerns last year'. Probably
not, but regardless, I filled it out honestly. I had a few questions about my
work group/manager, and then IBM as a whole. I indicated 'strongly disagree'
on the questions about whether I am proud to be an IBMer. Let them know the
truth. Management extremely quiet these past two weeks, I guess if they want
to give 30 days notice and get rid of people before the 401k match the notices
will have to be done this week. Fight back, donate or join the alliance now.
Show them we're mad as hell and not going to take it any more! -ReadTheTeaLeaves-Comment
11/12/14:@Nick Verbitsky, please post
the date (and time) your documentary will be shown on FRONTLINE. I for one would
like to see it. -Mark1-Comment
11/12/14: IBM pulls out of 450MM in Albany/CNSE
FAB. Employees pulled back, for now. -GotMine-Comment
11/12/14: I always thought that stock option
was for $1000 worth of stock at whatever the price was at the time of vesting,
not a specific number of shares. So if the stock price goes down you get more
shares, then it goes up (ha ha) and you sell at a profit.
Anyway when I left, $1000 (even had it been cash in my hand right there and
then) was not going to make one jot of difference to how I felt about that place
or the decision to leave. Execs get millions in zero cost options and they seem
to think that a paltry insult like $1000 of stock is going to make people stay
on. Makes it clear how little they understand the workforce. -Glad
To Be Gone-Comment
11/12/14: I was part of RSD (Retail) and when
it was preparing to sell off and we all got hit with a 10% pay cut, we were
paid our 7 stock shares early as a gloss over deal. This was in 2013. I waited
until the matching funds were paid that Dec 15th and said adios. This past year
being away from Big Blow has been an eye opener and long over due. More pay,
bonus and raise in first year plus cheaper health care insurance. Dont stay
-Played it My Way-Comment
11/11/14: IBM doesn't plan to lock itself into
another precise earnings forecast after ditching its long-held goal for 2015
profit.
Chief Financial Officer Martin Schroeter said IBM is unlikely to put in place
another "absolute" earnings-per-share roadmap. He said there's still
value in laying out the complex company's strategy for investors.http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-11-11/ibm-won-t-give-exact-eps-goal-after-ditching-forecast.html-Anon-Comment
11/11/14: I am a documentary filmmaker working
on a project for FRONTLINE, the documentary film series on PBS, and am interested
in speaking with former IBM employees laid off during the past 5 years.
I'd be grateful if interested parties could get in touch w me via nick@bluechipfilms.com.
All comments will be off the record.
Very respectfully,
Nick Verbitsky
Blue Chip Films for PBS FRONTLINE -Nick Verbitsky-Comment
11/11/14: While IBM is busy with its financial
engineering of borrowing billions of dollars to buy back IBM stocks, laying
off its developers and basically bankrupting the moral and future of the company
for some short term gains, -- GOOGLE just spend $1.2 B for:"space exploration, aviation, rover/robotics and other emerging
technologies".http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2014/11/10/google-moffett-field-navy-dirigible/18830317/
-StopGinny-Comment
11/11/14: I think it's finally time for everyone
to fill out this engagement survey with complete honesty. I think most have
masked their true opinions/feelings for some time. Anyone concerned the submissions
are not anonymous even though HR feels the need to specifically point out that
responses are anonymous. -SurveyThis-Comment
11/11/14: I'm shocked at how much concern is
being expressed over roadkill 2015 stock grant of 7 measly shares. Get over
it. That 'award' was a slap in the face. 5 years of work and then 5 more years
to get the payout and it is worth less than $1,200. Do you realize that if you
flipped burgers for 1 hour a week for those 10 years that you'd earn 4 times
that much? That is how valuable IBM thinks your contribution to roadmap 2015
was. When I decided to leave IBM, leaving behind 7 RSU shares was the least
of my concerns. If you are really concerned for your welfare spend your time
more wisely. Become a paying member of Alliance. I still am. My vested interest
is a retirement benefit that I don't want to see turned over to the PBGC if
IBM can't make good on their responsibilities. The management of IBM is broken. It will only be fixed through
force. That force can only come from a few sources.
A) Total collapse and reorganization with new governance.
B) A strong union forcing change.
C) An activist shareholder overthrow of the BOD and C suite.
I don't want to see A happen. B or C are the only options that could stop the
decline. It will not happen naturally. The leadership required does not exist
in the IBM of today. If you are not part of one of those agents of change then
your energies will be better rewarded elsewhere. -Anonymous-Comment
11/11/14: Friend from Rochester (MN) was telling
me yesterday about IT situation that illustrates how bad it is at IBM. On October
26, directory/HR/intranet ID, etc. records/UserID's were deleted for about 1700
employees. Was told it was everyone whose last names were in the range F - Z.
This also impacted an additional unknown number of employees in Switzerland.
It has been a mess, a fiasco. IBM Global Delivery or what ever the Help Desk
and the folks behind it are called these days, cannot even restore full access
to Connections and Communities. Obviously Connections is not ready for prime
time. At least they reacted in time so payroll was not screwed up. Not sure
about other benefits, but there have been rumors. -Ginny Tookus-Comment
11/11/14: When I left, the only conversation
I had with my manager went along the lines of,
"You know if you leave, you will lose your restricted stock, right?"...
to which I said something like, "yeah..." with a pregnant pause afterwards.
-ResignedOct2013-Comment
11/11/14: Forgive my possible ignorance here,
but I was under the impression that the stock option everyone is talking about
was dependent on hitting the $20 earnings number. Am I wrong? If not, that ship
has sailed... -Anonymous-Comment
11/11/14: Regarding the questions about how RSUs
are handled once you separate from IBM. I was laid off a couple of years ago
(retired permanently) and part of the deal was that they gave me a BRIDGE to
retirement. So I stopped actual working (gave back the PC, etc) in Feb. and
they bridged me to Feb of the following year. During the"Bridge period"
I had a significant amount of stocks vest and there was no problem once they
vested I was able to cash them out. -Jen-Comment
11/10/14: Here's what the RSU Stock Grant document
says about vesting and retirement:"If you retire from the Company, this Award will continue to vest
in accordance with its terms only if your retirement is required by law or a
Company written policy, in each case as reasonably determined by the Company."So if you are required to retire by law or by company written
policy before the vesting date, you continue to vest, otherwise you lose the
grant. Doesn't seem like this would be applicable in most cases.
-Survivor-Comment
11/10/14: I'm afraid I have little hope for IBM.
Rometty and her underling criminals have no clue and little chance to save IBM,
i.e.. too late to the dance. Given that, I suspect their only mission, and action
going forward, is to save themselves and pad their retirement accounts. Goodbye
to IBM as a viable company. Thank you Senior Executive criminals, i.e. PIGS.
-IBM is Doomed-Comment
11/10/14: Been at IBM GBS for almost 8 years.
Always delivered, got 1 and 2+ ratings, exceeded my utes target each year, keeping
tech skills fresh and customers happy. For the past 18 months been trying to
move into mobile and analytics and guess what? Denied training (too expensive),
denied project involvement (too busy to onboard), denied any clear path except
some nebulous advice from the APs to "blog" (about what?!?) 2/3rds
of my practice wants to get RA'ed as they think there's a Golden Payout coming.
Fat chance with that! Loved being an IBMer but I'm moving on. -OnwardUpward-Comment
11/10/14: Regarding the RSU's.... good grief
people... do you not know what vesting means??? If you're not an active employee
as of the vesting date (12/1/15), the RSU's go away.... key words..."restricted"
and "vest". Be an informed employee please. -Big Bob-Comment
11/10/14: I retired last year and looked into
the 2015 stock option deal before I left. The majority of people do lose these
options if they leave for any reason before 2015 (including retirement) There
is, however, a small portion of employees, that do keep them even if they leave.
I don't remember the exact criteria but I do remember reading it. I don't think
I have access to that information anymore since I am not in IBM anymore so I
can't verify it. -longtimebeemer-Comment
11/09/14: We must recognize that US unions were
very instrumental in getting such niceties such as paid vacations, sick leaves,
8 hour working days and even the concept of severance. Although the concept
of unions have been ruined in the US because of its associations with organized
crime in the past, it is a necessary evil. Unless of course you would like to
see all of you benefits erode every day etc. It is a necessary evil. Although
a union can only be powerful in a global workforce if the union is global. In
other news .. because of all the H1B flack. They are bringing in"guest"
workers into Mexico and having them do outsourced contracts from there. This
will skirt hot button issues for politicians and also you can take advantage
of lax labour laws in Mexico for maximum human exploitation. It is called near-shoring.
It is outsourcing to cheap labour markets without actually drawing the ire of
Americans. Because they are not here but south of the border.-RT-
Alliance reply: We do not consider unions to be evil. Saying so just plays into
the hands of corporate execs. By the way there is a global union alliance of
IBM unions:http://www.endicottalliance.org/iwiswebsite/iwis-ibmgua-links.htmComment
11/09/14: I retired from IBM in 2012 after 35
years with the company. I was not asked to leave or forced out, but decided
I had enough of the growing BS at IBM. My manager also stated that if I retired
at that time and was not a active employee in December 2015 that I would not
receive the Stock Grant. -Happily Retired-Comment
11/09/14: To LB. I
would like someone to confirm, because I understood that whether the stock is
yours or not, if you leave before vesting, for whatever reason, they're gone.
That's how the options worked. -Sackedin2012-Comment
11/09/14: I was talking with a partner at EMC.
We both support the same client. We got to talking a little bit about my tenure
at IBM. When he asked what happened I told him I was released by IBM for beinga
poor performer, went through my PBC ratings the last year and such. The laugh
from that person was memorable. -Anonymous-Comment
11/08/14: Re Stock Equity Grant: . LB, I
hope you are correct and I will hear some good news when I call MSSB Monday.
BUT, here is a reprint from the ADMG Resource Action Employee Information Package,
Part 2 - Questions and Answers for Employees: Q10. What happens to my IBM Special
Equity Grant? A10. Essentially, the special grant will work the same as other
equity grants work today. Typically, equity grants are cancelled if the grant-holder
leaves IBM, either voluntarily or involuntarily, before the vesting date in
December 2015. -Deb-Comment
11/08/14:"Employees are not assets".
Correct employees are considered expense items. IBM does not grasp the
concept that by eliminating one US employee and replacing them with nine cheaper
off-shored ones they are better off. You can not speed up a pregnancy by having
nine women labor for one month. -anonymous-Comment
11/08/14:@LowMorale. I was involved
with a high visibility customer Crit Sit matter where they cancelled a multi
year high dollar value outsource contract for documented justifiable reasons.
An IBM SVP personally called on the CIO who happened to be an ex IBM exec and
with a wink wink, hush hush buried the matter to the outrage of customer staff.
It would have been a major black eye if it became public. The CIO moved on not
too long afterwards. -anon-Comment
11/08/14: To LB....Concerning To "Anonymous"
relative to your response to Concerning: "Will my 2011 IBM $1000 stock
bonus still vest on 1/1/2015 if I am RAed on 1/1/2015?" If you cease to be an employee of IBM or its subsidiaries prior
to the Vesting Date (except as described below), this Award will be canceled.
Except in the case of Death or Disability. Leave of Absence or Retirement. Seems
to me that if you are RA'ed. You are No Longer an Employee. Please tell me If
I am interpreting the Grant Document Correctly? -Anonymous-Comment
11/08/14: to LB - thanks for the info!
If you, or anyone who is still employed, can post relevant info on the IBM special
equity grant, please post it for those of us who are already gone.
-RAtired-Comment
11/08/14: To-LB- and -anonymous,from the IBM document describing the 7 share RSU grant: If you
cease to be an employee of IBM or its subsidiaries prior to the Vesting Date
(except as described below), this Award will be canceled. (the exception referred
to is retirement, death and leave of absence in which case the shares will vest)
-ExIBMofCourse-Comment
11/08/14:RE: "Ensure you have the correct
information before you respond to folks questions! -LB-" Sorry to say this but YOU ARE WRONG, If you are not a active
employee when the stock bonus is issued in December 2015 you DO NOT get the
stock bonus. This includes retirees who were employed when the bonus was announced
but have since retired. I don't know where or who you are getting your information
about the bonus, but is is completely incorrect. -onewhoknows-Comment
11/08/14: US GTS: management being told to suggest
to retirement eligible employees they should leverage their personal "exit
plan" before year end. The axe will swing the first month of the new year.
-Mike RoChanel-Comment
11/07/14: I too spent many yrs at IBM. I bled
BLUE. So proud to be an IIBMer. They no longer are different from the run of
the mill. So many layoffs they do not even have the right skills to execute
anymore. People live in fear of being next to be let go and everyone is trying
to get out. So very sad on what it has become. -Julie-Comment
11/07/14:@Mark1: I was a solid 2+ performer
for decades, but I was RAed back in March 2014. It was about being old and working
in the US.. On the employee survey in 2013, there was also the question about
getting rewarded for doing a good job. HA!!!! -Yes, Virginia that
was a failure-Comment
11/07/14: Watch out... GF started ASIC company..
IBMers on onus now.http://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/manufacturing/glofo-sets-design-arm-invecas-2014-11/
-ASIC-Comment
11/07/14: There is now a mandatory 'customer
satisfaction' video and test. It said we should never include customers in our
surveys that have high severity support tickets open, have legal action pending,
basically no upset customers. Huh? Head in the sand 101. Also said the primary
reason for customer sat is "they will pay more for our products".
Somebody is clueless, shows the attitude that got us here. Money first, customers
and employees last. I hope someone from IBM exec level is monitoring this and
taking note of the price you pay when you treat your employees like chattel
- they will throw you under the bus at every chance, in public, to customers,
to the media, to competitors. They will be inspired to organize or leave. Support
the Alliance! -LowMorale-Comment
11/07/14: The "technology transfer"
mentioned earlier, the acronym actually used is "TT". Products, services,
deliverables are presented in a best thing since sliced bread format ignoring
the maggot mold infested flour they are made with. -beenthere-Comment
11/07/14: To "Anonymous" relative
to your response to Concerning: "Will my 2011 IBM $1000 stock bonus still
vest on 1/1/2015 if I am RAed on 1/1/2015?"The answer is your 7 RSU's (Restricted stock Units) dont become yours
until 12/15/15. If you are not here on that date or beyond, You Get Nothing
-Anonymous-You are totally incorrect! Those employees who were employed on
Dec. 31, 2010 - it is YOURS - it doesn't VEST until Dec 1 2015. Just do a W3
search on IBM special equity grant for information. You need to go to Morgan
Stanley Smith Barney and set up your acct. You can call MSSB @ 210-677-3662.
Ensure you have the correct information before you respond to folks questions!
-LB-Comment
11/07/14: Interesting bunker analogy @gone mentioned,
it is more appropriate than the Emperor's New Clothes parable. I've witnessed
too many issues that as they worked their way up the management chain being
filtered, massaged, the message changed. Passing word on that this deliverable
is a piece of s**t, becomes, "Manure, it will help fertilize and grow your
business". -anonymous-Comment
11/07/14:No More Pay Day - & - anon
- Prior to being put on a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP), you have
30 days to decide if you want to be placed on such a plan or to take a severance
package. If I remember correctly, the PIP package was for up to 13 weeks of
pay (at least that is what it was at the beginning of 2013). This is not part
of an RA, but being put on a PIP could make you a target if (when?!?) there
are cuts down the road in your area. A PIP can bet set-up for 30, 60 or 90 days
(perhaps even longer with HR approval). If at any time while you are on a PIP
your performance drops below the target rating cited by your manager (normally
a 2), then the PIP ends immediately and you are terminated without severance
pay. Normally, PIP's are only used when someone has been rated low in successive
years (e.g. two PBC 3 ratings in a row). Of course, "times they are a changin"
(credit to Bob Dylan). -OutIn2013-Comment
11/07/14: A manager at IBM always told me. Employees
are not assets, IBM considers all of us liabilities. He was not joking.
-anonymous-Comment
11/06/14: I am (was) a 2nd generation IBMer.
I was so happy to get hired (at 20 yrs old) that I didn't even need to know
the salary. I lived through the days when you could tell an IBMer by the way
they dressed and conducted themselves OUTSIDE of work, when an IBMer would work
overtime without being asked and didn't worry about being compensated because
we knew we would be taken care of. I worked at IBM when the leadership knew
the value of an employee and there was a bond of trust. Don't get me wrong,
I understand the business need for having a lean workforce, but even a lean
workforce can be dedicated to "the cause". The leadership today doesn?t
understand or appreciate the value of a dedicated workforce and until (or if)
they do they will not succeed. I love IBM like a child behaving badly, I still
love them but wish they would realize the error of their ways. -Mike-
Alliance reply: Most likely, your experience will never be understood by today's
new IBM employees. That era of IBM is long gone and IBM will NEVER "realize
the error of their ways" in this century. One perspective is that, "IF"
the US IBM workers decided to organize and be serious about collectively taking
"real action" , there would be hope that a long overdue paradigm shift
would engage. This is still possible, but it must take a great deal of effort
by IBM workers to make it happen.Comment
11/06/14: The only cloud offering that IBM is
now a leader in, is the big, dark cloud Ginni and her minions have over the
entire company. It is so refreshing being out of IBM and away from the tactics
they use on employees they no longer value. My advice is to start looking hard
outside of IBM and don't let them subject you to their evil ways
-RA'd in March-Comment
11/06/14: As IBM Commits to New (and Counter-Productive)
Share Buybacks, Employees Are Starting to Speak Out.http://www.forbes.com/sites/robertcringely/2014/11/06/as-ibm-commits-to-new-and-counter-productive-share-buybacks-employees-are-starting-to-speak-out/
-JustSaying-Comment
11/06/14: You will no doubt soon be selected
for layoff by IBM Analytics in the near future, if the recent payrise announcement
is anything to go by. IBM has run analytics against its staff to identify Cloud
Analytics Mobile Security (CAMSS) 'skills' to be eligible for a rise. It looks
at who is blogging, who says they have skills and have taken courses. Not who
is actually doing CAMSS work!!! So, another scheme that can be manipulated by
social braggers. A manager I know has a list of 5 eligibles and only 2 of them
do CAMSS work!!! The others just wised up to the need to blog and put skills
up on their profile pages!!! If this is the quality of central HR analytics
then imagine what it will be like when used for layoffs!!!-Mr Analytics-Comment
11/06/14: Looks like IBM's Pension may be in
trouble and not pay its future and current retirees?http://www.ai-cio.com/channel/RISK_MANAGEMENT/US_Companies__Must_Pay_$110B_More_to_DB_Plans_.html-Old
Guy-Comment
11/06/14: A new Cringley article that states
what many here know already -http://www.forbes.com/sites/robertcringely/2014/11/06/as-ibm-commits-to-new-and-counter-productive-share-buybacks-employees-are-starting-to-speak-out/?partner=yahootix
-glad2BeGone-Comment
11/06/14: For those who wish to protect themselves,
here's what I use in order to ensure that I don't lose anything I need if I
get my laptop taken away suddenly. I use an open source backup solution called
Duplicati (use 1.3.4 not the 2.0 preview, I couldn't get the latter working)
to encrypt and back your files up to an external drive of your own. I use it
on my personal laptop too, to create encrypted backups on google drive, since
they are one of only two solutions I could find where my private encryption
key is known only to me (the other, Spider Oak, was too expensive). Can anyone
getting RA packages please let us know what the terms are? Thanks! -LowMorale-Comment
11/06/14: This doesn't seem a macro issue like
Ginni indicated in her interview."Pricing is one reason but, perhaps more importantly, top customers
also cite IBM's arrogance and weaker partnership capabilities as key reasons.
In other words, IBM is seen as lacking price competitiveness, operating flexibility
and customer intimacy. These are a complex mix of interrelated challenges and
overcoming these can take years to resolve,"http://www.computerweekly.com/feature/IBM-India-staff-reductions-are-sign-of-shift-in-outsourcing-sector-ibm_losing_ground-Comment
11/06/14: 50,000 culled in India. Seems this
is about 50% of the workforce. IBM disputed the report of exec transfer to US.
For any one interested in immigration : Execs get their greencard in 6 months
& pathway to citizenship within 5 years.http://wraltechwire.com/as-ibm-reportedly-cuts-50-000-india-jobs-ceo-replaces-global-services-leader/14146112/
-workforce_fried-Comment
11/06/14: Sam Palmisano: "How to become
a truly global company"http://fortune.com/2014/11/05/gop-victory-boost-stocks/ None of the comments are in agreement with Sam the scam man.
-justsayin-Comment
11/05/14:@BackUpThis, don't concern
yourself about this. Armonk execs have for decades their own dedicated servers
and support staff. They do not see nor are impacted by the daily infrastructure
outages we see. -LongTimer-Comment
11/05/14: @canuck, regarding CAMSS. What Ginni
and the other SVP's don't admit to is they have monthly "Technology Transfer"
sessions. Where key technology sectors spends several months, involving dozens
of people preparing a deep dive presentation so exec's learn all the applicable
key words, buzz phrases, and talking points. These presentations are created
by the business area VP or GM in a manner that a former colleague described
accurately as a May 1945 Berlin Bunker Mentality with optimistic visions and
reports of what will save the day. There are dedicated staff in Armonk to guide
the creation of these presentations. Mind you she and the others do not take
a 10% pay cut for this. -gone-Comment
11/05/14: Ginni, Here's your legacy:http://www.consumeraffairs.com/computers/lenovo.html Seems as Lenovo has hit rock bottom. Your laptops are now no
longer wanted. -Gone and in Peace-Comment
11/05/14: IBM is in the FOG when it comes to
the CLOUD! IBM's vision is so myopic even prescription glass will not help at
this point. Not even a corneal transplant! Admit it Virginia and just move on
now pleeze!-JoeJaneIBMerPunchClock-Comment
11/05/14: I worked in Boulder, CO as a contractor
and was cut loose yesterday. I found out I was laid off at the end of the day
because I received an email that my AT&T access was being deleted. Then
10 minutes later I received another email that my accounts were being disabled.
Went to go ping my manager and she was not online. Got a hold of my contracting
company and was told I had been let go. I feel relieved and so happy that I
will will never have to use lotus f-ing notes ever again. -hatelotus-Comment
11/05/14: Magnus Carlsen (world chess champ)
would beat WATSON at chess so IBM better dust off DEEP BLUE! (considering IBM
dismantled DEEP BLUE after humiliating and not offering a rubber match to then
former champ Garry Kasparov who I feel was right that IBM "cheated")
-CheckmateIBM-Comment
11/05/14: To No More Pay Day...could you define
'minimized separation package' in terms of weeks offered and maximum?
-anon-Comment
11/05/14: Re: accounting. Our Brand execs would
be driven insane when our products were "given away" as part of a
deal that included a struggling product IBM was trying to push and make look
successful. -NumberSchnumber-Comment
11/05/14: Concerning: "Will my 2011
IBM $1000 stock bonus still vest on 1/1/2015 if I am RAed on 1/1/2015?"
The answer is your 7 RSU's (Restricted stock Units) dont become yours until
12/15/15. If you are not here on that date or beyond, You Get Nothing -Anonymous-Comment
11/05/14: Yep, you guys are right. I will save
my ST contacts and only that. Would be nice if I can save my emails too. oh
well -AfraidOfRA-Comment
11/05/14: The cloud will not replace eroding
margins and revenue at IBM. Cloud prices and margins are being driven down every
day by Amazon and Google. They can and are built to live on thin margins. IBM
is not. Watson will fail as others enter to provide cheaper and more innovative
solutions. -1K-Comment
11/05/14:-AfraidOfRA- Back up everything
you can before they shut off your internet access as they walk you out the door.
Back up all of your Sametime contacts and also do screen shots for all of the
people you might need to reach out to in the future from Bluepages. Save copies
of your PBC's, awards, salary history, job titles, sales acheivement if you
are In sales, names of internal classes you have taken, certifications received
and anything else related to your success. Back up everything and then get it
off site for your protection. -Vaughn-Comment
11/04/14:Anonymous - You are 100% correct
when it comes to the method used to tally up and distribute profits and revenue.
Since there is no legal or accounting rules to oversee this, IBM is free to
do this at their will. I know from my 21 years at IBM that this point alone
drives much internal discussion and debate, no doubt due in large part to Execs
and BLMs who's compensation depends on this. It is a lead-pipe cinch that G-Rom
and her minions are assigning anything that is within ICBM distance to "Cloud
Profit". What do you expect, that is ALL the Armonk gang has to offer now.
-Gone & Happy-Comment
11/04/14:@AfraidOfRA - None of what
you're talking about is your property. That's IP of IBM. I advise not even having
personal email or pictures on a company asset. You should be in a position of
being able to walk or be walked at a moments notice without regret of leaving
something behind. You've already answered your question by asking it. Is it
a common practice? People do it. Should you do it? No. -Ed-Comment
11/04/14: I did not see anything reported but
I was offered a minimized separation package last Thursday. It gives you 30
days to sign to receive the severance package. If you do not sign you can go
back to the manager for a Performance Improvement Plan. I had a 2 rating so
was caught totally off guard with this Resource Action. Prior to that many inside
IBM were informed, I was one, that we needed to work 32 hours and study 8 hours
per week for 10% less pay. Skills improvement...I was already working on a complicated
SoftLayer bid. The employee is nothing at IBM anymore! -No More
Pay Day-Comment
11/04/14: manager email today that the CAMSS
challenge is now mandatory. Matches with what others have said about this being
part of the basis for next RA round. -canuck-Comment
11/04/14: To Deb Kelly -- Thanks for writing
this about Lee Conrad, Kathi Cooper, and the tireless reporting and editorial
staff of Alliance and its web pages. I am in awe of their courage in the face
of antidemocratic forces that would love to silence them. Go union!
-ProudAllianceMember-Comment
11/04/14:@AfraidOfRA: You're not allowed
to keep any work related material from your machine, since that all belongs
to IBM. That's the policy, what you do with it is up to you. It's not customary
for RA victims (in the US anyway) to get walked out the door, they usually get
30 days. If you're really worried about it, make sure you offload any personal
data on your machine. By the way, I think you're giving the CIO's office too
much credit if you think they're watching what you copy from your laptop, not
because it isn't technically possible, but because they're not getting the funding
to do more important things they need to do. -Survivor-Comment
11/04/14: I have been tasked with validating
US STG cloud revenue on a quarterly basis. This revenue is counted MANUALLY
using spreadsheets and probably only 50% of the recipients that I ask to validate
their data actually respond. So yes, the cloud revenue data that is reported
externally by IBM Finance is bogus. If Herman Hollerith could automate the entire
US Census in 1890 why can't IBM automate it's cloud revenue validation process
in 2014...124 years later? -Anonymous-Comment
11/04/14:AfraidOfRA, Buy an external
USB drive (500GB should work) and use a free program like VMware Converter or
some other P2V program to make a virtual machine (VM)of your system. Save the
VM on the external disk without encrypting the external disk. Use a program
such as VMware Server or VirtualBox to mount and use the VM. If and when you
leave IBM, use a self booting "disk wipe" CD to remove your data.
before you return the laptop to IBM. -Was4Blue-Comment
11/04/14:@waitingforacallfrommgr: If
Ginni lost her files and TSM backups were corrupt or did not back up key files
I think she could care less and if she did it wouldn't hurt IBM as much as one
would think. -BackUpThis-Comment
11/04/14:to AfraidofRA, link from Alliance
on things to do:http://www.endicottalliance.org/news/survival.htm
-member-Comment
11/04/14:-Deb Kelly Proud IBMer- I
sure get your message! You are so right!How about the IBM ex-employees
that were organizers and fought the good fight who lost their job by RA? I think
they are right in that superhero category too! Can't forget the present Alliance
President who still works at IBM as a Superhero too! I think anyone in IBM who
joins/joined the Alliance is a hero! What do you think? -sby_willie-Comment
11/04/14:-AfraidOfRA- IBM equipment
like laptops and storage are for IBM Business Purposes Only. So it is up to
you if you want to risk copying any files of a personal nature. If IBM catches
you you might not be RAed but simply fired with cause since you broke a rule
of in IBM Business Conduct Guidelines if an IBM file copied off for your own
use is deemed for business purpose.-da_facts-Comment
11/04/14: Will my 2011 IBM $1000 stock bonus
still vest on 1/1/2015 if I am RAed on 1/1/2015? -StockingIBM-Comment
11/04/14: As IBM reports their ever greater Cloud
success one must ask what IBM is counting as Cloud. I hear through the grapevine
that non Cloud workloads are being counted as Cloud so that middle and lower
levels of management can make their numbers. I doubt Ginni has any idea how
corrupt the counting has become over the years but she and her peers probably
do not care as long as they can report an improving Cloud business to the analysts.
Again Wall Street is being misled as to the health of IBM but they may finally
be realizing that IBM's numbers are not to be trusted. -Anonymous-Comment
11/04/14: Hi guys, the silence of the managers
is deafening. I am not only bracing for no raises and no bonuses (being 2+ ranking)
but also bracing for the possibility of being RAed. There's something I want
to get advice from you guys: I want to know if it is appropriate for me to back
up my emails and work from the ThinkPad. I don't intend to steal anything from
the company but there's a lot of code, communications I want to take a snapshot
at for future reference. When I do get RA'ed, I wouldn't get that chance as
I'd be escorted out immediately. Is this common practice? If so, do you simply
copy everything to an USB stick? I am pretty sure there are things in the ThinkPad
that catches these things and reports it to the management. Anyhow, if you guys
think it is inappropriate for me to do, then I'll just not do it, but I want
to hear your input first. -AfraidOfRA-Comment
11/03/14: Hmmm, Buffet or someone is dumping
IBM? Since the bad 3Q numbers looking at real time NASDAQ trades, there have
been ongoing 100 share transactions occurring multiple times a second throughout
the day no matter what the price is.http://www.nasdaq.com/symbol/ibm/time-sales
-Anon-Comment
11/03/14: Really Sam? Don't know if anyone
else saw this, but Sam is spewing crap again:http://fortune.com/2014/11/03/sam-palmisano-how-to-become-a-truly-global-company/-Anonymous-Comment
11/03/14: Regarding the 2013 Engagement Survey,
our manager went over the results late summer. The output she was given to review
with us was a farce. They compared our department results to the "teams
scoring in the top 25 percent on the IBMer Engagement Index". So the only
company wide results that were shown were of the highest 25%. I wonder how long
it took them to figure out how to spin that. I had also heard the results were
pathetic and was surprised to see any results. It still amazes me that they
waste their time on these surveys. -East Fishkill member-Comment
11/03/14:http://www.businessinsider.com/steve-jobs-on-why-innovation-dies-at-tech-monopolies-2014-11Sound familiar to anyone else here for whom innovation
that matters never seemed to matter?-very
old writing on a very blue wall-Comment
11/03/14:Dear fellow IBMers.. I just
wanted to sincerely thank Lee Conrad for his tireless, superhero efforts on
our behalf and his wonderful voluntary team that I cannot thank personally because
I do not know all their names. Kathi Cooper is also a Superhero. I have been
a proud IBMer for 33 years and a staunch supporter and member of the Alliance
for only 18 months - SHAME ON ME !!! My health is not great.. so I really needed
to post this. I would not have traded my years at IBM - for anything in the
world. So lets give a shout out to Lee Conrad and Kathi Cooper Also you have
to read the Robert Cringely book - and the Peter E Greulich Book.. on IBM. They
are spot on . And finally my friends I posted the first reply to SAM this morning
on his article.. so the least I could do was to call out to our own Superhero
Lee ( Lee do not edit this down) You rock !! Respectfully -Deb Kelly
Proud IBMer- Comment
11/03/14:@Mark1: No, getting a PBC
rating of 3 does not mean an automatic RA, nor does it entitle you to less severance
than others get if you happen to be an RA victim. If you're put on a performance
plan because of your rating, that's when your severance is limited, but that's
different from an RA. -Survivor-Comment
11/03/14:The survey results were so bad even
IBM couldn't spin them. FLMs got a summary of their results and told "to
fix the problem", which is hilarious given FLMs have zero power to do anything,
they're just there so more senior managers don't have to talk to the plebs.
-Can'tHearYou-Comment
11/03/14: Rumor is that 3rd party company is
taking over India microelcetronis team.GF do not plan to setup center.Trusted
persons of Sanjay will acquire and manage this team. -stgindia-Comment
11/03/14:@SteveGaylord, my experience
was similar to yours. I was with IBM for over 31 years and in the last 10 years
saw only a couple of raises that totaled a few percent. During that time, our
share of medical went up, retirement plans became only 401K, taxes (especially
SS) went up, and my calculated effective take home by my estimation went down
about 35% during that time. I left on my own terms a little over a year ago...
vs. waiting for a package. I got a 25% pay increase in my new job, and after
1 year I just got a 3% raise. My share of medical is reasonable, and the company
values the employees. In fact, or VP of HR during annual appraisal time told
the managers that he would never go to a forced ranking system. There are better
options out there than waiting for IBM to fix their management problems.
-GoneIn2013-Comment
11/02/14:@waitingforacallfrommgr: This
is why IBM is losing customers left and right. No backup solution yet they own
TSM backup?? Umm, wake up IBM and you FLM's everywhere. The writing is on the
wall, IBM's future is toast. Softlayer cannot save them. They are hardly competitive
in "the cloud" with enterprise accounts. No client in our building
are using Softlayer cloud solutions. Customers are not going to just shut down
their datacenters and move them to Softlayers because then they know they are
stuck with IBM support, which is 5 managers for every technician. Not a good
thing for a paying customer. Ginni should start cleaning house in middle mgmt
first and hire more priv users who can actually help out supporting the clients.
Cringely got it right, why cant IBM?? -justFit-Comment
11/02/14: There was an employee survey last fall...and
the results were supposed to have been shared in jan-Feb 2014 -Yes,
Virginia that was a failure-Comment
11/02/14: Apparently IBM execs in india sent
a mail claiming the report of scaling down the business is not accurate.
-ibm_threw_towel-Comment
11/01/14: Does a PBC rating of 3 automatically
mean RA? And if so, does that mean less than two weeks of severance/year of
service (e.g., maximum of 4 weeks severance)? By the way, I haven't heard of
RA's this quarter in GBS where I am. Does that mean they are being pushed into
1stQ2015 to make 4thQ2014 look better? Or should I say look less bad?
-Mark1-Comment
11/01/14:@Alliance & @Very worried.
The last Corp wide Employee Survey was 4Q 2013. There was much rah rah
and constant haranguing to participate. It turned out to be about a dozen questions
along the the lines of "we're doing a great job, tell us what a great
job we're doing." There were no discernible valuable take aways from
it. The best question was "Would you recommend IBM as an employer to
your best friend?" From the little that filtered back to 1st levels,
there was pitifully small response (number of employees that took it). The feedback
was so negative that instead of finding why, the survey was discarded.
-anon-
Alliance reply: Thank you for the information.Comment
11/01/14:-Very worried-: And if IBM
did an employee survey they potentially know who took the survey since even
if they say you were anonymously selected and assure you of it they can find
your hostname and IP on the 9. IBM network where the survey is sent on internal
e-mail. If a survey happens it is sure to get more candidates for an RA or find
the brown nosers to keep and replace with the critical of IBM ones. Join the
Alliance. That is more productive of your time than taking a useless IBM survey!-IBMUnionYES-Comment
11/01/14:-Rusty IBMer-: Just means
IBM is cancelling purchase orders (PO). That is all a IBM contractor is in Canada,
USA, Anywhere! You are just a cost RESOURCE to IBM and IBM is cutting all costs
now. -sby_willie-Comment
10/31/14: To the ats guy... Yep, travel has been
restricted since the early 2000's, but execs and mgrs travel multiple times
a year to far away lands. You want to drive to NJ with your own car, and that
request is denied... Use the phone, we are told over and over -Yes,
Virginia that was a failure-Comment
10/31/14:@WaitingForACallFromMyManager The
laptop is IBM supplied, configured and managed system used for IBM business.
If there was a system failure, loss of data. It was IBM's responsibility to
fix, restore not my mine. Ditto for servers. How many times do you find your
Notes running or replicating from one or more back up systems till the primary
was restored. The latter illustrates systemic infrastructure failures and of
IBM Global Account to provide quality service. -Anonymous-Comment
10/31/14:"IBM scaling down in India..
MD to return."
If it does return to USA soil, it will soon be offshored to Communist Indochina
or Africa.-IBM$uck$-
Alliance reply: Don't hold your breath waiting for MD to return anywhere. BTW..
IBM is already in Indochina.Comment
10/31/14: Talked to a close friend today who
is a second line manager. Being told that IBM Canada is laying off (not a furlough)
many many contractors. Looks like Ginni is going to stay the course. Put your
seat belts on folks.-Rusty IBMer-Comment
10/31/14: I work in Engagement Solutions Management
at IBM. It is pretty much understood that if you are working a deal that needs
you, you may have to give up your Christmas or Thanksgiving Holiday, etc. Getting
a potential signing by year end is more important to IBM than employees spending
time with their families during the holidays. There are still a few managers
that try to minimize that from happening.OurProductive Utilization policy expects us to work on average more
hours (2153) than there are working hours in a year. While it appears you can
still take Christmas, Thanksgiving, other holidays and your "earned"
vacation, if IBM doesn't need you on those days, you are expected to work enough
overtime hours to make up for any non-productive time such as vacation and holidays,
plus another 73 hours a year. Is it any wonder we have seen attrition rates
in the 20% range and most of those who haven?t quit because they need a job,
are looking elsewhere? -Steve Gaylord-Comment
10/31/14: Another Example that IBM doesn't care
about their Employees Concerns:
What ever happened to the last Employees Survey that was taken? Has ANYONE seen
the results of the Survey? I have NOT! Maybe the Comments were not what Ginny
wanted to Hear?-Very worried-
Alliance reply: IBM's employees survey never mattered much, anyway. When was
the last survey taken? Comment
10/31/14: I wonder how many customers are aware
that IBM has no backup facility or policy for its employee workstations. I've
always been amazed at this. There's the useless MyHelp app which does backups,
which are often corrupt, but IBM offers no external drives or cloud/external
storage (where's all this cloud stuff we talk about?). Every consultant I've
worked with (and I do ask often) does not back up their machines. That's a lot
of billable customer work at risk, especially when you have employees that are
disgruntled or just told they are canned. Unionize and fight for better working
conditions! -WaitingForACallFromMyManager-Comment
10/31/14: Are there currently any major tech
companies (within the same industry as IBM in the United States) that have Union
Representation? In other words, has there been any other tech companies (or
well known ones) over the last several years that the employees rose up to have
established a Union representing the employees? -anon- Alliance reply: Yes. Go to this link for an example:
https://www.washtech.org/index.php/about/about-usComment
10/30/14: I had the satisfaction recently packing
up my technical knowledge, skills, expertise seeing the writing on the wall
and left on my own terms. IBM came calling: We need you, WE REALLY NEED YOU!
Come back!, COME BACK!. Sorry, my dance card is filled. The deliverable will
fail. You saw to that when you eviscerated the development and test organizations.
Customers will be displeased, GTS will loose contracts. You have salted the
earth, now reap what you have sowed. -gone-Comment
10/30/14: Ginnie, bless your re inventive heart.
Could you please answer this simple question. Yes or No. Would you fly in a
airplane or sail a ship that IBM wrote the code for? -Magnolia-Comment
10/30/14: Ginni, you probably are unaware of
how the Roadmap affected business so let me provide an example. When I joined
Advanced Technical Support in the US I was appalled that I could not visit a
customer without 3rd line expense approval. My job was Technical Sales. I was
supposed to sell technical solutions to customers DIRECTLY. My ATS management
was so proud that he made his expense budget every year. Conversely, the rank
and file were shocked at how little customer interaction we had. It was like
having a heavy weapons reserve unit that was prevented from going into battle
because bullets were too expensive. So, Ginni, your directions on expense control
were carried out by your management structure without regard for the need to
actually sell something to a customer. You totally mismanaged the primary responsibility
to the shareholder and that was to promote a healthy growing profitable business
and not a crafty financial engineering business. Peter Principle in action.
-Anonymous-Comment
10/30/14: Is IBM RATIONAL up for sale? Any one
any ideas? -Going crazy-Comment
10/30/14: Ginni, the most basic question needing
to be addressed by IBMers to customers is why to do business with IBM. IBMers
of the past could articulate answers to this question because they were part
of something that was important. As you and your predecessors shifted focus
solely to the shareholder the IBMer became nothing more than a resourced to
be actioned whenever EPS required. IBMers no longer have the passion needed
to answer the question about why to do business with IBM. Ginni you and your
colleagues lost focus on the customer and the employee, two of the other three
legs of the stool, and now you have damaged IBM to the point that the third
leg of the stool, the shareholders, have now been impacted. Because of your
complete lack of competence in running IBM it is time for you to step down.
You have become the poster child for the Peter Principle. -Anonymous-Comment
10/30/14:"-johnh- I assume someone
from the Lenovo transition will speak up but I have been led to believe all
retire-able IBM'ers will retire by 12/31 and will be offered a job by GF in
January 2015.Those eligible for pensions can start drawing on them. -lastdino1-"I for one would not retire from the company prior to being accepted
by GF. If you can retire, then you can call the ESC and start the process after
you have the new job. If you do retire before the transfer, you are no longer
an active employee and what would make anyone think that you would then be part
of the deal. Until it is in written in stone that you are retained by GF, I
would be very careful. -Ich Bin Muede-Comment
10/30/14: PBC 3 doesn't necessarily "deserve
it". Remember that there is a quota for PBC 3 recipients. Despite the fact
that IBM has RA'ed anyone remotely a PBC 3 years ago, HR is FORCING managers
to stick employees with PBC 3s. Yes, FORCING. There is a quota. A certain percentage
will have to eat the PBC 3, deserved or not. The appraisal system with its negative
quotas is beyond useless - it is demoralizing and damaging. -Anonymous-Comment
10/30/14: I've been with IBM 35 years and finally
joined up. 29 raises in 35 years but only 2, 2% raises in last 10 years while
incentive and overall pay declines almost every year. Management says my experience
is not inconsistent with others. I guess I should be happy they haven't cut
my salary yet...maybe after this post. This week my manager sent us a PowerPoint
showing our productivity targets. Exempt employees are expected to record 103.5%
productivity or 2153 productive hours a year. If you have earned five weeks
vacation, you are expected to work an extra 200 hours overtime to make the ratio.
It appears the same applies to sick days, etc. What a way for IBM Management
to MAJOR in the MINORS vs. focus on improving morale and revenue. My solution
was to join the union. I hope more do. IBM Profits have tripled in the last
ten years while non executive employee compensation steadily declines, even
before inflation. Feel free to use my name.-Steve
Gaylord-Comment
10/30/14: I hear Keven Spacey was the guest speaker
at a IBM dog and pony show is Vegas. Makes sense as so many IBM execs aspire
to be like Frank Underwood - too bad they're not smart enough. -HouseOfCards-Comment
10/29/14: And just how long did "they"
know the Roadmap was a failure? Guessing long enough to line their pockets and
strap on their parachutes. I find it so ironic: AMERICAN GREED..followed by
THE PROFIT, and finally SECRET LIVES OF THE SUPER RICH. -Ginni in
the Cloud with Diamonds-Comment
10/29/14: It's been a while since I've looked
at your web site, Alliance. I must say that you seem to be doing well and are
continuing to reach IBMers all over the world. It's just too bad that US IBMers
cannot see the value in what you keep telling them. I really don't understand
US labour policies or their laws well, but from what I see, Americans are being
"divested" of their labour rights by their own government. Is that
the case? One thing I also noticed is that the IBM Alliance union seems to be
ahead of IBM executives in their ability to understand Cloud technology! Bravo
Alliance. We're all watching you do your best, over here. Keep up the good work!
-UK former IBMer-Comment
10/29/14: The reason India is shedding jobs is
because it got too expensive for them in India. A few years ago, India was outsourcing
their work to other SE Asian countries so they could get it done cheaper. Now
IBM will cut out the middle man and offshore directly to China, Laos, Cambodia...wherever
they can get it done the cheapest. -longtimebeemer-Comment
10/28/14:http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/ites/ibm-scaling-down-india-business-md-vanitha-narayanan-to-return-to-us/articleshow/44964938.cmsIBM scaling down India business. A decade after IBM put India
at the core of its global strategy for software services, by building an army
of engineers, the company is shedding staff, scaling down investments and even
shuffling the top leadership in the country. As IBM attempts to script another
turnaround in over a century of its existence, lowcost software services are
no more the silver bullet that helped it come out of "a neardeath experience"
in the late nineties. With aggressive disruptors such as Amazon and Google,
cloud computing is the new battlefront, threatening models that rely on low-cost
labour. -anon-Comment
10/28/14: Seems India is getting the boot ..
Workforce reduction by a third.http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/ites/software-ibm-cuts-indias-role-in-turnaround-script-aims-to-shed-staff/articleshow/44964938.cms?curpg=2
-India_hit-Comment
10/28/14: A report says IBM India will be laying
off 13,000 more (total will be 65,000 over 3 years) by March 2015. Note: "lakh"
= 100,000 http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/ites/ibm-scaling-down-india-business-md-vanitha-narayanan-to-return-to-us/articleshow/44964938.cms
-yestrodamus-Comment
10/28/14: Seems as though another layoff might
be in the air. Receiving LinkedIn requests from the very few folks that I know
who still work for IBM. Not surprising given IBM's last quarterly report. In
retrospect, there is no way that IBM 2014 even comes close to resembling what
IBM 1994 looked like. So sad to see a dinosaur die because IBM management did
not care about the people who got the corporation to where they were in the
marketplace. NO doubt, it is all about GREED! -Former IBM Accountant-Comment
10/28/14: PBC 3 ratings mean nothing when it
comes to RA's. In DBQ we had a guy who had 2 consecutive PBC 3's, several failed
changes and abuse of corp card. Yet he still had a job for 2 more years. They
RA who they want, not who deserves it. -mayatimehascome-Comment
10/28/14: Ginni, a motivated work force is worth
its weight in gold. You have an unmotivated work force. I left IBM in 2013 and
for the last 2 of my remaining years I finally figured out that there was no
reward from IBM for going the extra mile. While I did not have a raise for the
last 10 years it took me quite a bit of time to realize the lack of rewards.
I left IBM voluntarily in 2014. Ginni, there was a purported old saying during
the Soviet era that the government pretended to pay and the employees pretended
to work. IBM is mimicking the old Soviet Union and history will tell you how
that works out. Lastly, either you learn to reward your workers or suffer from
their lack of performance, your choice. -Anonymous-Comment
10/28/14: Don't even concern yourself with the
Rometty August stock sale... Concern yourselves with organizing and join the
Alliance NOW!-IBMUnionYES-Comment
10/28/14:"The decision about which
divisions will be hit is made in the stratosphere somewhere."Nah. I think the decisions, if you want to call knee jerk reactions that,
it is in the FOG. IBM can't soar too high and is still not into the CLOUDs as
a major player!-da_facts-Comment
10/28/14: After 36 years of giving my life to
IBM, I must state that you must join the union. My departure was all about age,
and the IBM legal system made you sign all forms about age. I pray and beg you
all remaining souls to JOIN THE UNION. Too late for me! -Anonymous-Comment
10/28/14: There is probably a correlation between
the rise of layoffs at IBM and the decline of capital spending. CapEx is now
less than depreciation and amortization, as profits are quickly upped via acquisition
and stock buybacks using cheap loans, instead of the traditional reliance on
business development via innovation from existing employees. Blame excessively
low interest rates tempting greedy, myopic managers. -Dave-Comment
10/28/14:@16YrsAndCounting - very accurate,
but you missed the all-Managers call with HR (the one where you have to identify
yourself to the operator and verbally provide a password) where FLM's are instructed
they must "own the decision" when telling their staff they are RA'd
and not pass the buck to more senior managers.... -MoraleDied-Comment
10/28/14: This year's MBA will not be based on
previous year PBC result, instead only those employees with key skills will
get the salary adjustment. Key skills being CAMSS. It is up to HR and management
to decide whether or not a particular employee possess such key skills and deserve
the pay rise. -MLF-Comment
10/28/14:@HeatSink: The decision about
which divisions will be hit is made in the stratosphere somewhere. Once that
decision is made, GMs and VPs are given numbers. Those numbers are broken down
into directors, and then again into second-line managers. By the time it gets
to the first line, the message is "RA in ?Q. Reminder: you may NOT speak
of this to anyone. I need one name from you." (or two names, or three names.
Whatever.) (THe FLMs argue. They lose the arguments, in most cases.) All of
those names are submitted back up the chain, adjustments made as needed, and
Voila! the RA list. -16YrsAndCounting-Comment
10/28/14: All losing FHA and on cash balance
plan need to send a reminder to Cuomo and officials in Vt.. Cuomo is "monitoring
the deal" while we pay for state pensions that are not taxed if you stay
in NYS.. We all lost pensions.. Now same group may lose FHA $$ IBM will save
millions.. Paying global will be a wash..http://www.governor.ny.gov/contact/GovernorContactForm.php
-Da-Leaker-Comment
10/28/14:http://seekingalpha.com/article/2603245-ibm-needs-to-invest-in-people-products-and-processes-not-paper
-Anonymous-Comment
10/28/14: How long since the Lenovo deal closed?
Lenovo is launching a full assault on the z and Power business. The Lenovo sales
and marketing folks who came from IBM are now unleashed ... this is something
they have wanted to do for years. -G Tookus-Comment
10/27/14: Do we really still have "tremendous
resources and knowledge" as the Forbes article states? The "SCAMS"
initiatives (Security, Cloud, Analytics, Mobile, and Social) required (among
other aptitudes) the very skills that were laid off in the STG RA of March 2014:
technical specialists in security, software, and networking architectures and
technologies. The ignorant managers responsible for the final RA selection were
lacking the skills to identify required skills and yet landed as curriculum
managers for the 10% of the remaining IBMers whose skill sets were deemed deficient.
(Was their pay docked by 10% for not knowing which skills were required to promote
SCAMS?) Ginni says Services are essential and yet the skills are hardly there
to support them. Whoever tries to right this ship had better focus on resurrecting
true technical education that began its slow death in 1992 so that IBMers can
begin again to delight their customers. -Soothsayer-Comment
10/27/14: Something to consider as James McNerney
Boeing CEO is on the IBM Boardhttp://seattletimes.com/html/businesstechnology/2024865367_pfboeingbuyoutxml.htmlDecision time for Boeing pension-buyout offer Former Boeing employees
who have not yet retired have until Oct. 31 to tell the company whether they
want a lump-sum check in December or a monthly annuity payment that begins the
same month, or reject both options. -Warning-Comment
10/27/14:-Canuck-, my department was
also asked to submit ten-month PBC progress outside of the PBC tool. We were
told that this would be used to decide who gets RA'd and who doesn't.
-Anonymous-Comment
10/27/14:-Heat Sink-, RAs in IBM are
determined by three main areas, your age (If over 50 you will most likely be
RA'ed, your PBC rating if three or worse, and how will did you play the political
game with management. Without a union contract and being an at will employee
your at the mercy of management if you get RA'ed or not. Join the Union now,
before its to late. -ANA-Comment
10/27/14: Forbes bashes IBM plans and strategy,
just what the alliance and all of us have been saying for years. It's about
time they started looking under the covers at the realireality of today's IBM!
Forbes Now: IBM's Potemkin Prosperity.http://google.com/newsstand/s/CBIw-fug4h8
-jsl-Comment
10/27/14: IBM = a Potemkin VillageSee this article in Forbes about IBM's misguided decisions:http://www.forbes.com/sites/stevedenning/2014/10/26/ibms-potemkin-prosperity/?partner=yahootix Read how IBM's talk about its values was never backed up with
pertinent actions. I hope that the author's closing remarks are true: "Yet
the case isn't hopeless. Despite the profound problems IBM now faces, the firm
still has tremendous resources and knowledge, in particular in R&D."
*Longtime Alliance Member* -Hoping for the Best-Comment
10/27/14: To>>>-johnh->>>If
you all are retirement eligible; you should announce your retirement BEFORE
the "give away" is completed. Then you will get your FULL IBM RETIREMENT
and be FREE to hire on to GF, if they want you, and get an additional, completely
separate, Retirement process from GF. -Huggie-Comment
10/27/14: Many good articles out there. But I
found this one particularly interesting... calling for a management overhaul
if IBM is serious about change.http://www.forbes.com/sites/stevedenning/2014/10/26/ibms-potemkin-prosperity/
-16YrsAndCounting-Comment
10/27/14: Great infrastructure. Bunch of BluePage
records were deleted last night. Including many in the Rochester's (NY and MN).
So anything Intranet is not accessible including Sametime, Connections, etc.
-G. Tookus-Comment
10/27/14: Early PBC's being required for my group,
not sure about others. Being asked to submit results but just by email, not
using the PBC tool. Due today for Manager alignment meeting on Thursday. Seems
like a bad sign of upcoming RA. -Canuck-Comment
10/27/14: Quite a few IBM intranet IDs were deleted
from Bluepages. A honest mistake or did someone update Bluepages a little too
soon. -Anon-Comment
10/27/14:-johnh- I assume someone from
the Lenovo transition will speak up but I have been led to believe all retire-able
IBM'ers will retire by 12/31 and will be offered a job by GF in January 2015.Those
eligible for pensions can start drawing on them. -lastdino1-Comment
10/26/14: If there are to be layoffs in 4Q...how
will they decide which people will "go"? -HeatSink-Comment
10/26/14: Ginni's stock sale record is interesting.
Remember that in January she told us all that there were not bonuses (except
for 1's). She then immediately sold $7,000,000 of stock (zero cost basis) and
took home over $3,000,000 after setting aside for taxes. To put that in context,
that's more than any non-executive will earn in a 30 year IBM career in one
move, after calling for joint sacrifice. They just don't teach leadership skills
like that. -Don'tForget-Comment
10/26/14: What ever happened to IBM's ON DEMAND
services? I guess Sammy boys marketing farce has been redefined by Ginni to
mean ON DEMAND cost savings and RA services. No wonder I don't see the "I'm
an IBMer" commercials on cable TV no more. Guess they can't show them since
those in them are probably ex-IBMers!? -anonymous-Comment
10/26/14: It is indeed intriguing that Ginni
sold her stock at the opportune moment a month ago and made a killing. My gut
told me that IBM earnings are headed for disaster and I sold my stock too.....at
192. Today its at 162. So Yay! -StockGap-Comment
10/25/14: It's becoming increasingly clear to
me that this strategy Palmisano had, in part, was selfish intentions.
Given the fact that Ginni cannot sustain what Palmisano started in earnest what
I see is a concerted effort on Palmisano's part to improve the stock and overall
his retirement package; which one can say was definitely underwater when he
took the helm. So he sold the stock analysts pills over the course of his tenure
to secure his retirement package; all under the guise of "we are doing
everything right for the world". Now, the planet does seem to be smarter,
and many are firing IBM as the months and years go by.-Anonymous-Comment
10/25/14: I AM a member of the Alliance and work
in EFK and soon will no longer be an IBMer. Until the transfer, does ANYONE
have a guess what will happen to people who are eligible for retirement with
IBM, will they push us out before GF takes over??? -johnh-Comment
10/24/14: Alliance, first of all good work on
keeping up the pressure and information the disasterous affect Roadmap has on
employees. OK, so with all the news this week did we get new members?
-Aon-
Alliance reply: Thank you. We have had a small uptick in members but nowhere
close to what we need. Thousands came to this comment section this week.Comment
10/24/14: According to the table: Ginni sold
70,822 shares for 14.878 mil from 12/12 thru 8/14. Sounds like Ginny might have
known something. Didn't Martha Stewart get jail time for doing something similar?
-Glad To Be Gone 2013-
Alliance reply: Don't waste your time, energy, or breath deciding whether Ginni
is a criminal or not. Spend your energy organizing IBMers. Comment
10/24/14: Instead of participating in the IBM
ECCC can we contribute through the Alliance or CWA? -anonymous-
Alliance reply: You could contribute through Alliance/CWA if there was a contract
between the workers and IBM management. But there isn't and you can't.....yet!Comment
10/24/14: About IBM Cloud offerings: IBM has
been lost in the fog for years. They can't even rise to the low level cumulus
level, let alone the cumulonimbus or cirrus levels. Too late to the dance IBM:
your an elephant for sure and you see mice all around! And you should be frightened
to death now. No strategy. No vision. No leadership. WE ALL KNOW what it means:
RAs. Join the Alliance and TRY TO DO SOMETHING about it!-UncleWeatherbee-Comment
10/24/14: -LowMorale-, what you are witnessing
is the degradation of the infrastructure and support organization caused by
lack of funding and investment. In other words, the IBM house is falling in
on itself due to neglect. -Anonymous-Comment
10/24/14: Attention Everyone on IBM CASH BALANCE
PENSION plan who turned 40 AFTER June 30, 1999. In order to receive the money
in your FUTURE HEALTH ACCOUNT (FHA) you must be 55 years of age with a minimum
of 15 years service when you separate from IBM. I will have 30 years service
@ 51 years old and receive NO retiree medical benefits from IBM when the Global
Foundries sale is completed. Folks are concerned about losing the stock shares
and matching 401K for 2015. This is nothing compared to what is in your FHA
account. -Anonymous-Comment
10/24/14: IBMers: This ship will never set sail
in the right direction without a union contract for the "at will employees"
of IBM. There will continue to be more RAs so executives can get thy their bonuses
at the end of the year, no raises and more loss of benefits. Join the union
and get a contract just like Rometty has and Lou and Sam had contracts.
-ANA-Comment
10/24/14: I'm convinced that the primary reason
IBM announced the end of the Roadmap is so executive comp for 2015 won't be
build around $20/share. From what we've seen on insider trading, the real money
isn't in salary, or even bonus, it's in option prices. -Anon2-Comment
10/24/14: For those no longer in IBM, or industry
types or press following along with this soap opera, here is a glimpse of 'business
as usual' inside IBM. This morning there was an important internal webcast on
our new Internet of Things on the cloud offering. Nobody was savvy enough, and
the internal tools are so decrepit, that they couldn't even get the webcast
started and working. So it turned into a cluster-* of sending out the slides,
or trying to. Then the primary speaker wasn't even on the call, who knows where
he was, probably looking for a new job somewhere. This happens time after time.
The internal 'cloud' meeting crashes continually, and can't scale when more
than a few people join. The audio over 'cloud' is horrendous, so people are
told to 'dial in'. The internal infrastructure people need to do their jobs,
starting with that horrible piece of you know what called Notes, is counter-productive.
Unionize and demand better working conditions, if you plan on being around!
-LowMorale-Comment
10/24/14: Of course nobody has a strategy or
motivational things to say, -ShipGoingDown-. For starters, they got
rid of people like *me*, who struggled for decades in what was far more an obedience
school environment than a place that championed innovation. The corporate innovation
belief really should have read "Obedience that matters" all those
years. In the meantime, younger people who who couldn't innovate their way out
of a paper bash shell bag were retained to exchange buzzwords like "going
forward" while imagining that doing so constituted innovating. Forget it.
It needs to burn to the ground before renewal is possible. -watching-the-shares-sink-Comment
10/24/14: Employee Charitable Contributions (ECC)
are basically you donating some of your salary to IBM marketing. By all means
give generously, but do it outside of IBM. -MarketingBudget-Comment
10/24/14: Cringely has been spot on for years
about IBM!!! If it wasn't for the Alliance, only Cringely mentions OBM RAs and
the real plight of IBM! Despite criticism, skepticism, and near constant pasting
by CAs (corporate apologists) on IBM's side, Robert Cringely has proven prophetic
in what has happened to this IBM. If the IBM executive management and the Board
of Directors just glanced at his articles with an open mind over the years,
they could have gotten some ideas, vision, and maybe an ounce of leadership...they
still don't have.-anonIBMer-Comment
10/24/14: Roadmap 2015 reminded me of the movie
Braveheart in one respect when English king Longshanks was fighting the Scots
and when he felt the battle was going his way as planned he turned to his general
and said "..bring up the archers again.." The general replied "But
Sire we have our own infantry over there!" The king shot back "WELL
we do have reserves don't we?!" Raodmap 2015 was the battle. Actually it
was Roadkill 2015. RAs anyone? IBM executives have treated us employees much
the same way. Now it must stop! Roadkill 2015 cannot become the Roadmap to Hell!
We want out RESPECT and deserve FREEDOM on the job at IBM without having to
constantly look over our shoulders at a mongering and callous management.-WallaceForTheAlliance-Comment
10/24/14: HP Enterprise is poised to go more
rapidly down the same disastrous road as IBM and upper management appears to
be blind to the perils. If anyone has caught wind of a US union effort for HP,
please reply. I've been roadkill once at IBM and don't want to be again at HP.
-ex-CDI_Drone-Comment
10/24/14: It's amusing to me that it's almost
a full work week later, and I've been on many of the usual strategy calls that
we have to start a new quarter, at every level of management up through exec
level. Not one 'leader' has had a motivational thing to say. It's all downcast
reflection on the horror of 3Q. They all know it will get worse, because nobody
has a strategy or motivational thing to say. I'm getting bombarded with canceled
client meeting notifications and amusingly, hammered by demands from every level
of management to participate in the employee charitable contributions (ECC)
program. Don't they realize people haven't had raises in years, making less
money due to inflation, and concerned about their impending firings? *This*
is what they are worried about and spending energy on and pestering demoralized
employees about!?! Ship adrift in Dilbertland. -ShipGoingDown-Comment
10/24/14: After 10+ years at Big Blew, my manager
did me a great favor. RA'd in 2013. Working in Pharma now.
Do you really believe GF will absorb all the workers at BTV/EFK? Do you believe
IBM won't have another RA in STG before the deal is finalized with GF? Don't
forget 12/15/14 (401K). Join the Alliance or sink. -Vermont Woodchuck-Comment
10/24/14: The vampires (as Cringley calls them)
struck in August. Right in the middle of 3Q.http://finance.yahoo.com/q/it?s=IBM+Insider+Transactions
-Blue Knight-Comment
10/24/14: Look at what Ginny did at the end of
August. IBM Insider Trading shows she dumped a bunch of IBM Stock. Maybe? She
already knew what the Numbers held? 27-Aug-14 27,678 IBM Option Exercise at $92.12 - $101.33 per
share. (Cost of about $2,677,000)
27-Aug-14 10,819 IBM Sale at $191.79 - $191.93 per share. (Proceeds of about
$2,076,000)
27-Aug-14 10,518 IBM Sale at $191.57 - $191.78 per share. (Proceeds of about
$2,016,000) -Very Worried-Comment
10/23/14: Forget about Rometty's fate. You have
no control over it. She has a contract. You have control over your fate. Join
the Alliance! Get a contract. -IBMUnionNow-Comment
10/23/14: ibm executives first, corporate profits
second, to hell with IBM employees third. All of this started under Lou. He
Laid off 100,000,s of IBMers at the same time he hires a chef for himself at
$100,0000 per year. Sam and Rometty are the same Corrupt and Greedy people.
Without a union to protect workers rights, IBMers will continue to loose jobs,
wages, and benefits . Wake up IBM employees join the union to protect your families.
With these executives in charge, you have no other option but to join the union.
-ANA-Comment
10/23/14: Gotta love Cringely, he's right on
the money.http://www.forbes.com/sites/robertcringely/2014/10/23/how-to-fix-ibm/-Mike-Comment
10/23/14:http://www.forbes.com/sites/robertcringely/2014/10/23/how-to-fix-ibm/?partner=yahootix
-Anonymous-Comment
10/23/14: Message from Alliance and IBM Global
Union Alliance on Roadmap 2015http://www.endicottalliance.org/Afromalliancemessageroadkill2015.htm
-Alliance-Comment
10/23/14: This guy is spot on http://www.forbes.com/sites/robertcringely/2014/10/20/how-big-blue-blew-it-inside-ibms-catastrophic-earnings-miss/
-Jonny2times-Comment
10/23/14: Given the mess that IBM has become,
and its repair will be difficult, it can only start with across the board firings,
Rometty and all her direct reports. This mess can't be fixed until this collective
garbage is removed. -Fire The Crap-Alliance reply: ok let's review: The BoD of IBM is
composed of people that are assembled on behalf of the BoD. The shareholders
would have to demand that the BoD be fired first; which would include the CEO.
The problem is that the shareholders are not demanding that. So, whatever dissatisfaction
you have with IBM, don't expect anyone at the IBM executive or Board of Directors
level to take your advice. They operate in their own little vacuum. This mess
requires more than just fixing management and the BoD. Alliance stands for the
workers and their interests; but IBMers must unite to proceed ahead with a union.
It can be done. It has been done before. IF IBMers take that step, collectively,
there will be a number of changes that will ultimately restore confidence in
the market with customers, and in the workplace. The change we recommend is
IBMers organizing. Step one: Join the Alliance. Step two: get as many non-management
IBMers to join as possible. Go public with your demands to IBM. Demonstrate
that the workers making the products (whatever are left, that is) and providing
the services for IBM's customers can make the company some revenue, instead
of the past idiocy of stock buy backs and massive RA's. Do all that, and then
this could turn out to be a good story, instead of a doomsday story. It's up
to you.Comment
10/23/14: I doubt this will get published, but
my concern is what is stopping IBM from shipping people over from Asia, house
& feed them, for significantly less than a person from US/Canada? If everybody
did join the Alliance, IBM will just say "Screw you all we will bring
our own labor." -ibmphantom-
Alliance reply: What will stop them? Organizing, mobilizing, public and worker
outrage. Sitting passively by is NO option.Comment
10/23/14:http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/story/news/local/2014/10/23/workers-rip-ibm-roadmap/17767517/
-member-Comment
10/23/14: Akers = Rometty = Incompetence. I suffered
IBM's abuse as you are now. Your family dynamic is threatened.
My Empathy is with you. All (except 1) of my colleagues have since exited. You
will NOT be the exception ! Your time is fleeting.
My own Financial Engineering : Stock "Short & Puts" = Profiting
by IBM Share Price Annihilation. When you enlist your Union, I will invest "long"
IBM. Dismissed in 1991 (pitiful IBM management fabrications) after 10 years'
Loyal Service. Retained Canada's most notable Labour Lawyer (Levitt) = $$$ettlement
for Unjust Dismissal. Eventually I secured employment in the Unionized Private
Sector. Unions mandate is to represent Labour.
The Union Movement originated to fend off Abusive Management Practises. Unions
1st obligate management to act responsible & accountable. Union & Management
can then cohesively align on Joint Business Strategies. In providing Representation,
your Union's Agenda IS for IBM's Success. You need to methodically intelligently
& collectively Mutiny, via a Negotiated Employment Contract. Historically
when provoked, Americans DO mobilize for Rebellion. Stop Being Abused ! Save
your Career ! Collectively Embrace your Union. -Irish-American-Canuck-Comment
10/23/14: You know things are not good when brand
executives are worried about tiny transactional software deals. So much pressure
on Sales ... and quotas do not reflect reality ... then again, did they ever?
This company cannot get out of its own way. The upper echelons of executive
leadership needs to be shelled, from the top down. Then maybe IBM will get back
to being an innovative company that is guided by engineering & sales vs.
Finance & shareholders. Oh well, "BOHICA" ... -Cubicle
Cannon Fodder-Comment
10/23/14: IBM pays Global Foundries 1.5 Billion
and 3100 employees to take the chip division off their hands and they are calling
it a sale? Sounds more like some kind of settlement! IBM drops Roadkill 2015
after they have gotten rid of all senior employees who helped build IBM (by
age discrimination layoffs or retaliation by managers) and replaced them with
inexperience contractors or workers. Warren Buffett loses 900 million in one
day and Ginny claims to be a victim in all this. Whenever a company gets as
greedy as IBM and treats their employees as horribly as IBM has treated their
employee of course IBM will spiral downhill thanks to Karma. Now IBM wants to
reinvent their selves. l IBM better take care of the employees they did dirty
and maybe Karma will let IBM reinvent their selves. If not I see the doors closing
at IBM everyone needs to join the union or polish up their resumes, because
Karma has come ah knocking on IBM front doors and it doesn't look pretty.
-Glad To Be RA'D 2013-Comment
10/23/14: Gloomy Diwali for about 400 families
in STG India.No where GF commited to take India employees. Management is clue
less. In a month India STG will be half empty -Anonymous-Comment
10/22/14: Whats wrong with IBM today'Louis Gerstner at IBM: $189 Million. In 2002 Louis Gerstner stepped
down as CEO of IBM. IBM paid him a severance package worth $189M. As a group,
the 21 most highly compensated departing CEOs received $72.5 million in bonus
payouts as part of their severance packages. IBM needs a union to stop this
greed and corruption -ANA-Comment
10/22/14:-Mike- "Jack Ma at Alibaba"
does have it right with "customers first, employees second, shareholders
third". Great article you posted the link to. At IBM, it's been "IBM
execs first, shareholders second, and have we forgotten anyone' Nope..."
You will never succeed when you bring the hatred of your employees upon yourselves.
They are the ones out there in the trenches with your customers. And if your
customers aren't truly your focus, as they never were despite the ridiculous
3-3-9 propaganda, you're really screwed. Your company might lose 13% of it's
value in mere days. Someone ask the band to get on deck and play. Those of you
who hope to remain on board would be foolish to not find a lifeboat. That lifeboat
is the Alliance. -HelpYourself-Comment
10/22/14: Outspoken billionaire investor Mark
Cuban told CNBC on Wednesday that he would "absolutely not invest in
IBM"."IBM is no longer a tech company," Cuban told CNBC. "They
have no vision. What they've evolved into is a company that does [arbitrage]
on acquisitions. It's stock buybacks. Who is IBM anymore?"http://www.businessinsider.com/mark-cuban-ibm-is-not-a-tech-company-2014-10
-anon-Comment
10/22/14:http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/10/22/the-nature-of-the-ibm-crisis/The Nature of the IBM "Crisis"
A.M. Sacconaghi of Bernstein Research asked the money question during IBM's
conference call on Monday: "Is there a crisis at IBM?"
The reply from Virginia M. Rometty, IBM's chief executive, was by turns measured
and impassioned. The technology industry, she said, was going through a period
of 'unprecedented change' but IBM was taking a 'series of very bold actions'
to successfully navigate the transition in the long term, despite the company's
financial setback in the third quarter. "We've got to reinvent ourselves,"
Ms. Rometty said, "as we've done in previous generations."-Anonymous-Comment
10/22/14: With IBM in crisis mode expect the
employees to take the bulk of the pain. The execs will protect themselves. We
have to be organized and strong. Now more than ever we need the Alliance and
more members! -member-Comment
10/22/14: I believe there is a vicious cycle
where every time we get to this 'pre-crisis' stage where we know a lot of people
are going to get RA'd (fired) folks hold off and say to themselves "If
it's not me this time, I'll join the Alliance". And then the smoke
clears and people are so relieved they just forget or put it off. Help to stop
the cycle of stress on your life and your family's life. We can get traction,
every great movement started with the brave initiatives of a few people. At
the lower right of this page is a link to join. Just do it, fight back, you'll
feel better and motivate and inspire others to do so. -HelpYourself-Comment
10/22/14: Billionaire investor Mark Cuban told
CNBC on Wednesday he believes IBM is now a financial engineering company, not
a tech company anymore. Couldn't have said it better myself. -RAtired-Comment
10/22/14: Nailed it!!http://www.forbes.com/sites/panosmourdoukoutas/2014/10/21/ibm-should-take-a-strategy-lesson-from-alibaba/
-Mike-Comment
10/22/14: Nothing to be concerned about at IBM.
IBM's version of Steve Jobs, Rosamilia The Dunce, asserts all is grand given
IBM is just so busy 'reinventing' itself. And, per Rometty The Clown, the mass
of layoffs soon to come is just 'simplification' Perhaps too late to save this
mess, but only a unified workforce can save IBM from this inept Executive crap.
-No Hope Remaining-Comment
10/22/14: I understand why so many people want
to focus on what Rometty is doing wrong: if Ginni is the problem, all we need
is a new CEO and then IBM will be fine! But if you expect some white knight
CEO to ride in, replace Ginni, and sweep you off to a fairy tale IBM devoted
to trust and personal responsibility and respect for the individual, you haven't
been paying attention. IBM isn't going to get better without organized action
from the employees. You can't rely on the executives - their interests are not
your interests. -Cassandra-
Alliance reply: Thank you.Comment
10/22/14: Ginni comes to her senses, but too
late for IBM?http://www.cringely.com/2014/10/21/ginni-comes-senses-late-ibm/
-anon-Comment
10/22/14: Here is a one-minute clip from PBS
News Hour.. about what happens when management thinks of "labor as a cost
to be minimized"... http://archive.org/details/WHYY_20140901_220000_PBS_NewsHour#start/1320/end/1380
-yestrodamus-
Alliance reply: It's amazing what was obvious 15 years ago, is finally being
discussed out in the open as though it's a new "revelation". Yet,
IBMers still can't decide to act as a group, rather than individuals, and organize
toward a collective employment contract and a strategy that actually works for
unionized companies all over the world. Who knew?Comment
10/22/14:-Raised eyebrow-: What are
you talking about? IBM has been off-shoring work for years. Countless coworkers
have had to train their replacements. I was ra-ed in March because they would
not fund a US person for my old position. -Anonymous-Comment
10/22/14:@-dafacts- Partners and APs
used to have power but they simply don't have power anymore. It's been stripped
away from them since 2010 - which is the time the slide started to occur. Power
is now vested in the offshore delivery centers. All the partners and dpes do
now is sell deals for these centers and take the blame when they can't deliver.
18 years ago when I joined IBM band 8s would have 400-600 people easy reporting
to them. But now that's not the case. The biggest reason for the collapse is
simple. The denuding of the technical capability of the company in terms of
front line consultants who can actually deliver. Sacking of consultants, or
selling their roles to Manpower, and even partners while on client engagements
which led to massive losses of faith and airing of dirty linen in front of clients.
In many cases this has been done to people on cams engagements - so that puts
the lie to the strategy the top brass put out there.-BlueRover-Comment
10/21/14: Regarding the 4.7B write off - much
of that is depreciation of the 300MM fab and tools. -gone2gf-Comment
10/21/14: IBM's Woes Highlight a Major Risk to
the Markethttp://blog.commonwealth.com/independent-market-observer/ibm%E2%80%99s-woes-highlight-a-major-risk-to-the-market-anonymous-Comment
10/21/14:-IBMUnionYES- Actually, we're
told regularly to give any small deals to business partners to focus on the
big ones. I agree, it's a mistake. I believe it's done to facilitate moving
*all* deals to partners and get rid of the sales and tech sales force, to as
large an extent possible. If we had done what Apple had done, and continue to
make the best keyboards, printers, PCs, laptops, other 'business machines' in
the world, instead of selling them off, who knows, IBM may have survived.
-LowMorale-Comment
10/21/14: Perhaps I missed it, an explanation
why $4.7B write off charged against 3Q? The GF deal is $1.5B to be paid in $500M
installments over 3 years. Cost of buying chips? Doubtful. The last two years
there was a $2B write off against 1st or 2nd Q's to cover "resource reallocation"
aka RA's. One can read into this massive (tens of thousands) RA's planned for
2015 taking the financial hit now trying to boost numbers then.
-anonymous-Comment
10/21/14: Alliance. I'd disagree. the Execs and
the workforce need to work together to drag this company out of the mire. The
problem is that only the execs can really initiate that currently. Obviously
the solution to organize but it's a lot more complicated than that and I think
that fear plays a big part in the lack of sign ups. Certainly, when I was there
I did not want to risk painting an any bigger target on my back than was already
there. The philosophy is very much keep your head down an hope the bullets go
overhead. And we should be concerned about what SHE does (at least until she
is gone) because it affects us all, even those of use that have left but are
still in related industries and thus have a dependence on what IBM does.
-Glad To Be Gone-Comment
10/21/14: I haven't seen anyone pick up on this
comment in the earnings call yesterday by CFO Martin Schroeter. What he's in
IBM-speak is that IBM hasn't used off-shoring as much as other companies, and
they're going to step it up now:
"From a culture perspective around the shift to -- around the shift to
global delivery centers, quite frankly we've not been as aggressive here as
others have been. So we think we have an opportunity -- we have an opportunity
move more that work to where we can put it into a more common platform.
So yes, the overall -- yes the overall headcount is coming down and yes, we
will be moving more aggressively into the global delivery centers, but again
we have not been as aggressive as others and then the other thing I point out
is that reduction in overall headcount also allows us now to think about how
we simplify our business and some of what you heard in my prepared remarks were
around trying to simplify the business."-Raised
eyebrow-Comment
10/21/14: This guy nailed it (like so many others)
back in May with the excellent cover story in BusinessWeek. I love his GPS analogy
here. Unfortunately, we are now a ship adrift. Protect yourself, unionize, because
the shaft is about to get a lot bigger.http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-10-20/ibm-is-in-even-worse-shape-than-it-seemed
-WaitingForACallFromMyManager-Comment
10/21/14: What ever happened to IBM's commitment
to grow business in the small business sectors? Wasn't that KEY to the Raodmap
(now officially Roadkill)? IBM always go for the BIG $$$ mega contracts in the
millions and even billions and not the littler ones in the thousands of dollars.
You can't grow business or revenue organically without a broad revenue stream.
Look at most companies with a union. The union workers are the ones that get
in and work to the smaller markets (i.e local businesses, etc.) and organically
sustain the company, not executive management's direction.-IBMUnionYES-Comment
10/21/14:-BLueRover-: If the associate
partners, IBM directors, DEs, DPEs etc if they are frustrated they have more
authority to make change in IBM where a non-management, non-executive can only
do so with a union. The middle management of IBM are afraid of making positive
waves or losing their position or job. I'm not calling the cowards but they
are like teetering support beams to the IBM business platform. Employees too
are the nails to the support beams but also are scared of losing their job but
they have no power in keeping their job without a union. It's simple: to improve
IBM now employees must organize and unionize. We need a strong support. Before
it is all too late.-da_facts-Comment
10/21/14: It amazes me to see the level of discourse
as key events happen, then it quiets down until the next event. With IBM's 3rd
Qtr results and their stated goals of reduction, again, of headcount, there
should be enough people signing up for a union. Of course they haven't as they
just like to squawk on the Internet instead of doing something positive for
themselves. Only thought that I can think of for this strange behavior is that
the average length of service for an employee has gone from a average of 15
years to 3-5 years. The older employees long gone, the newer employees think
they can survive or move to another company... -Thefielder-Comment
10/21/14: Finally the press are catching on.
The video segment in this article even mentions employees called it Roadkill
2015.http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-10-20/ibm-abandons-2015-earnings-goal-as-rometty-divests-assets-1-.html
-Finally-Comment
10/21/14: I can foresee GF taking what they want
from the Essex Fab and shutting the doors. The equipment is antiquated and unable
to work with any of the new technologies...22nm,14nm etc. Join the union or
polish that resume.-Anonymous-Comment
10/21/14:-da_facts- Of course it's
her fault. She could quite easily say that they are not doing it this way any
more and they are going to revert to 'real' values rather than the lip service
to the values they currently implement, but she hasn't and she has not done
that because she is Sam's girl that has bought into the notion that the company
was successful because of things 'they' did rather than for its people and products.
Even if the board forces her to step down (they won't fire her as such because
she has a 'contract') she'll still walk away with a nice bonus and probably
walk into another top job (god help them though) without too much trouble.
-Glad To Be Gone-
Alliance reply: Why the concern about what ever Rometty does? Isn't it obvious
that the IBM workers need to develop their own strategy collectively, rather
than as individuals, if they want to continue to work at IBM? CEO's come and
go at IBM and they all have "piddled" on their workforce in total
disrespect with avarice. Why waste energy on any of them? Organize and build
a large group of IBMers that can actually change things for the better?Comment
10/21/14: I can forsee a LOT of 3 PBC's next
year so for future RA's there is less of a severance to give out ...if there
is a severance at all ....glad I am out of there and not having to worry and
sweat it out now like the rest of the soon to be ex IBMer's -anon-Comment
10/21/14: The Truth Hidden by IBM's Buybackshttp://dealbook.nytimes.com/2014/10/20/the-truth-hidden-by-ibms-buybacks/
-anon-Comment
10/21/14:http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/story/news/local/2014/10/20/ibm-tax-east-fishkill/17640649/Future tax status of IBM plant generates concern. The potential
sale of the IBM Corp. site in East Fishkill would have ramifications to the
local taxing jurisdictions.-anon-Comment
10/21/14: The IBM CEO is a good example of "empty
calories". Time to shed her and her cronies. What have they done besides
financially engineering IBM right into the ground? Roadkill 2015 finally comes
to an end. And the idiot who started it? Will he be fired and placed on a pedestal
of stupidity as an example to others? -Anonymous- Alliance reply: Former IBM CEO (and Rometty's mentor)Sam
Palmisano initiated Roadmap 2015. He's retired and long ago insulated from any
"firing" suggestions. Any other ideas? How about focusing on the workers
getting organized? Never mind 'time to shed her and her cronies'.
Focus on the workers. Orgainze them. We
can help.Comment
10/21/14: It's funny if real senior managers
really read this page or heck did something innovative like speak with their
own employees then this ongoing debacle could be avoided.
I'm a non manager band 9 consultant who gets to work with a lot of partners,
associate partners, DEs, DPEs etc and if they were allowed to post here I assure
you they'd post the same as many of you. Their frustrations are the same.
In fairness though I've been to the U.S. to work with my American collegues
five times in the last 12 years. Each time it's clear: the U.S. situation is
worse and getting worse and each time it's clear you guys don't recognise it.
Also I think the next stage after hitting roadkill 2015 would have been to break
up the company for profit (of buffet and the directors not you). That's probably
still the plan. Best of luck from your friends in AP.
*******To those who say sack middle managers that's an illusion. For
starters they really don't exist in most places anymore, except by label only
because all basic bean counting and resource management is offshored and all
project, people managers and partners since roadmap 2015 have the same or higher
utilization targets than us plebs.
Best yet all IBM related project and people management time is counted as non
productive or disallowed in cost cases to disincentivise proper management of
employees yet have scapegoats ready if things go wrong.
Also calling someone a manager or having large numbers of unnecessary people
managers is a union busting method used in the us. Ibm has so many "manager"
titles because managers cannot be in a union by law even tho the roles are not
really as such.-BlueRover-Comment
10/21/14: Was a proud IBMer for 5 years, and
then the Feb2014 RAs happened. I survived it, but thought it better to leave
the once-brilliant ship for a smaller but smoother sailing one some time this
year. Looking back, I miss IBM. The exec screwed it, but the grass-root IBMer
is still the same: hardworking, sincere, dedicated and (most important of all)
a fun person to work with. It saddens me to see the great Blue floundering under
a misguided leadership, and pains me to see the IBMers bearing the brunt and
taking all the blame for stupid "strategic" decisions the management
makes. Do the folks in the Alliance have any plans for non-US IBMers and how
they can contribute to the Union? Would be interested to know if it is active
in non-US geos. -exIBMerFromBangalore-Alliance reply: Alliance@IBM is a member of the IBM
Global Union Alliance. There are a number of unions and works councils
within several IBM locations outside the US. However, their country laws and
regs regarding unions are different than the US labor laws and how they are
applied. The Alliance@IBM focus is on US IBMers; but we are also active with
our IBM-GUA membership and activities in those country's locations.Here's the link to the list of IBM unions outside
the US:IBM
Global Union AllianceComment
10/21/14: 3Q was bad, but 4Q may be worse. Beyond
the weakness in the marketplace Ginni referenced in the earnings call, her employees
are going to be lacking motivation. They announced to the world they're cutting
variable pay (again), setting aside $600m to fund firings (again), and that
we're empty calories. Of course, those firings will come just in time to avoid
paying 401k matches, and, they go that much deeper since X and the Technology
Group are out of play. -Anon2-Comment
10/21/14: Biology provides many examples of succeeding
yourselves into extinction. Here's a riddle for the IBM "C-Suite"
to contemplate: What does success mean? Glad you popped me, you've been trashing
the place ever since the gen-xers told you how badly your corporate culture
um, needed fixing - a member of an earlier generation. -nothing
changed in 20 years-Comment
10/21/14: Buffett doesn't suffer any losses when
IBM's stock market price changes. Buffett doesn't care. He won't sell the stock
so there is no loss. He keeps collecting his >$70M / quarter dividends for
years to come. Of course he might get worried at some point if the revenues
don't stop declining at some point in the coming years. -Teukka-Comment
10/21/14: GBS will reorg but the problem isnt
the organization but rather the cost to client. Why so high to pay for all the
execs. Cut execs first. SWG will reduce headcountin sales reps. Wrong approach
reduce HC in execs. Lastly why shouldnt buffett sell. The execs sell every chance
they can. -grabthelifejacket-Comment
10/21/14: Oh, rats! There goes my $1000 worth
of stock...which might be worth $500 by the time 2016 rolls around.
-Anonymous-Comment
10/21/14: Another "workforce rebalacing"
coming: "..Additionally, as we execute some of our plans to drive simplification
and accelerate productivity in our business, we expect to take a workforce rebalancing
charge in the fourth quarter. We are starting to work through our plans, but
at this point we'd expect to take a charge of up to $600 million. We have also
had a dramatic move in currencies, and we've taken into account an impact based
on current spot rates." -anon-Comment
10/20/14: Wonder how long he'll hold onto his
IBM stock?
Investor Warren Buffett may suffer a $1billion loss due to plummeting IBM stocks
Company Berkshire Hathaway, of which Buffett is CEO, currently has 70,173,978
IBM shares The news comes just weeks after Berkshire Hathaway lost millions
on supermarket chain Tesco -Anon-Comment
10/20/14: If you think this 3Q was bad, wait
till the 4Q results. Nobody's buying what the leadership is selling. Money talks,
bulls**t walks. -Smarterthanyou-Comment
10/20/14: Net income: $18 million 2 cents a share.
It is better than losing 2 cents a share. I guess what goes around comes around,
huh, IBM. Keep screwing your workers over. -Glass-Still-There-Comment
10/20/14: Rest assured IBMers: Ginni just slept
fine and enjoyed her weekend. Why you think they delayed the expected 10/16/2014
(she doesn't really work Fridays...like you have to) announcement and gave 3rd
QTR final guidance when she woke up this AM? She needed a few days and the weekend
to get her exit contact in place. Now can you? -IdiotsBecameManagement-Comment
10/20/14: In some defense of Ginni: it's not
all her fault. The IBM culture eroded under Gerster, was on life support under
Palmisano (Junior CEO at best), and now has just about died with Rometty. Ever
onward to oblivion I'm afraid International Business Machines. UNLESS you folks
UNIONIZE RIGHT NOW! IBM needs real rank and file direction since current IBM
executives are a greedy, wealthy, but a BIG joke as far as IBM leadership and
direction is concerned. -da_facts-Comment
10/20/14: RAs most likely to come before December
15, 2014, so that IBM can avoid having to match 401K contributions. Nothing
personal, just business. -Anonymous-
Alliance reply: "Just" business??? Nothing "just" about
it. IBM has been sacrificing their workers and their workers' benefits for some
time now. It shouldn't be any surprise to any IBMers still with the company.Comment
10/20/14: Folks, the odds of the 401K match being
ELIMINATED took a turn for the worse this morning. IBM has nothing to lose and
everything to gain by doing this. When times are tough cash is king.
-Zeke-Comment
10/20/14:Ginny, do you think you're running
Dilbert's company, calling employees "empty calories"?Part of the solution for IBM is to shed some of those older businesses,
what CEO Ginni Rometty calls "empty calories." Besides Monday's sale
of the chip unit, earlier this month the Armonk, New York company sold its low-end
server business to Lenovo Group for $2.1 billion. At the same time, it has been
making new investments to catch up in cloud computing. IBM opened a new center
in North Carolina last month that provides cloud services to help companies
keep running in the event of a disaster. -Anon-Comment
10/20/14:
http://blogs.barrons.com/techtraderdaily/2014/10/20/ibm-ceo-rometty-hints-to-cnbc-about-layoffs-we-are-playing-to-win/IBM CEO Rometty Hints to CNBC About Layoffs; "We Are Playing to
Win"

DF: "Are there going to be layoffs?"

GR: "We'll announce some restructuring actions we'll take. That will
increase our speed and simplicity. I was with 30 of our biggest clients a few
days ago. What they were talking about is the role IBM can uniquely play about
being the navigator. When it comes to an enterprise, you've got to emigrate
them. We always said three things would make a difference on cloud: hybrid;
data; security. All that is coming together now." -Anon-Comment
10/20/14:"They could start by a significant
resource action of the excessive number of middle managers and V.P.'s instead
of the workers."Absolutely the right call and action!..But Ginni will vilify and scapegoat
the common worker picked for 10% pay reduction for training. These will be the
first to be purged in the very imminent next RA. PLS FOLKS READING THIS: JOIN
THE ALLIANCE NOW! DO SOMETHING positive for your IBM!-da_facts-Comment
10/20/14: I've read the news reports about the
employees that have been sold off as part of the GF deal. My question is, what
happens to those employees that are entitled to their traditional pensions?
Can they collect it immediately now that they're working for GF and not IBM?
I guess the same question would apply to those IBM'ers who were sold off to
Lenovo as well. Just wondering. -Alliance Member-Comment
10/20/14: Way to go Ginny, IBM may be dropped
from Dow: http://blogs.wsj.com/moneybeat/2014/10/20/ibm-poised-to-go-where-its-never-gone-before/
-Anon-Comment
10/20/14: The board is not going to fire themselves
but they should divest themselves of that woman. As for the crew of the good
ship IBM, god bless all that sail in her because you're gonna need all the help
you can get. -Glad To Be Gone-Comment
10/20/14: Its all about corporate greed and corruption
Rometty has taken over $35 million out since taking the helm, insiders in just
the past year have taken out over $50 million according to their Form 4 filings.
IBM needs a union or there will no longer be a IBM with this type of greed and
corruption. -ANA-Comment
10/20/14: IBM EMPTY CALORIES in the biz hurting
IBM revenues?!?! How about EMPTY EXECUTIVES and their leadership IBM!
-NOVirginia-Comment
10/20/14: RAs are inevitable since IBM has just
backed away from Roadmap 2015 EPS. No real details of RAs and when they will
occur but past recent history is our continued lesson. 3rd QTR supposedly
to be announced on 10/16/2014 after 4PM and was"stealthy rescheduled"
to 10/20/2014 after 4PM but Ginni just dropped the ball this AM. It is not too
late to join the Alliance. We told you it was Roadkill 2015 and we are on a
Roadmap to Hell. Now we might only have a year to save IBM with a union since
IBM Executive Management, though greedy and rich as heck still is as inept and
clueless on what REVENUE is an how to grow it.-RAsComingASAP-Comment
10/20/14: Wow, IBM is really tanking. For Ginny
to abandon Roadmap 2015 indicates some serious organizational problems. Anyone
who is still employed at IBM better be scared, after this news I can assure
you there will be an RA blood-bath this coming fall, so get out while you can.
Most of all, I wonder how many employees were sacrificed for the sake of $20
EPS? By now I'm pretty sure that the casualty count is in the tens of thousands,
probably more if you count all the contractors and international workers who
were laid-off. In the end, all IBMer's are casualties in Ginny's failed cause.
-Just another RA casualty-Comment
10/20/14:http://wraltechwire.com/rank-and-file-ibmers-pay-the-price-as-big-blue-s-reboot-accelerates/14097512/
-Alliance-Comment
10/20/14:http://l.facebook.com/l/HAQHog0-G/www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-10-20/ibm-is-in-even-worse-shape-than-it-seemed
-another Alliance member-Comment
10/20/14: Now that the ugly truth is no longer
possible to hide, I expect IBM to do huge business rearrangements to try and
get all the negativity completed in as short a news cycle as possible. If they
no longer feel they need to be sneaky about layoffs, then expect them to be
much more aggressive. -UglyTruth-Comment
10/20/14: Torched STG and many fine employees
for the sake of a couple of dollars on the share .. down 12.82 points as I write
this .. If you're anywhere in IBM, sales/software/hardware, and you haven't
signed up with Alliance, it may be too late now .. good luck to all of you ..http://www.foxbusiness.com/industries/2014/10/20/ibm-posts-wide-third-quarter-miss/
-Bad_Karma-
Alliance reply: It's never too late to take action and organize; BUT there's
more to it than just signing up. Signing up is step ONE. Nevertheless, step
ONE needs to occur, NOW.Comment
10/20/14: So our "leadership team"
has finally acknowledged what the rank and file has been saying for years. The
2015 roadmap is unsustainable. Do you suppose there is any hope that our "leaders"
will start listening to those who are closest to our customers? They could start
by a significant resource action of the excessive number of middle managers
and V.P.'s instead of the workers. -Alliance member-Comment
10/20/14: Ginny on CNBC for interview. The more
she talks the lower the stock goes.She needs to go. IBM needs a union to stop
all the BS she is giving the press this morning. -ANA-Comment
10/20/14: In case anyone thought that IBM's official
decommit of the 2015 EPS Roadmap would allow them to bring back some sanity
back to resource management, they wasted no time booking additional "productivity"
gains in the outlook (rhymes with resource actions). Later, they mentioned a
$600M provision for 4Q. Here we go again. -Anon2-Comment
10/20/14: @AllianceIBM tweet:"IBM
Abandons 2015 Earnings Forecast as CEO Divests Assets:http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-10-20/ibm-abandons-2015-earnings-goal-as-rometty-divests-assets-1-.html"But IBMers R "roadkill" just the same. @IBM #THINKunion"
Good one, Alliance! -BlueEyedBlindness-Comment
10/20/14:http://finance.yahoo.com/news/ibm-posts-4-percent-drop-112057607.html
Roadmap is dead?-anonymoyus-
Alliance reply: At least the Roadmap 2015 is dead; but ironically, the 'Roadkill'
of IBM workers is still alive. Comment
10/20/14: Ginny said this morning in her depressing
video to employees that we will simplify and streamline our company. Yup, we
all know what that means. Buckle up and sign up, or bend over. Read those tea
leaves, people. It sucks to see your company crash this badly, but there is
some gratification in knowing at least one of the causes is treating your employees
so horribly an underestimating the impact of the low morale you have brought
upon yourself by those actions. -ReadTheTeaLeaves-Comment
10/20/14: IBM abandons "at least $20 Operating
EPS" in 2015 in latest earnings report. Maybe we'll start looking at the
long term. -Anon-Comment
10/20/14: wow what a big earnings hit...you have
to see a major RA in the near future to make up for so such a big loss in earnings!
-big stock hit-Comment
10/20/14: IBM is first-rate at ditching employees
and avoiding legal repercussions. The sale of the chip business is the "legal"
way to do this. The buyer of that is under no obligation to honor previous employee
promises or warranties. Smooth, seamless, legal. And all IBM. -Anonymous-Comment
10/19/14: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-10-19/ibm-agrees-to-pay-globalfoundries-1-5-billion-to-take-chip-unit.html
-member-Comment
10/19/14: Looks like tomorrow is the big day
for IBM and Global Foundaries. Nicely timed to tie into 3Q results. Market will
likely be happy IBM is getting all that extra overhead off the books for 2015.
Looks like the "price tag" for IBM is going to be about $1.5B. So
long and best of luck to all out friends in Burlington & Fishkill.
-Anon2-Comment
10/19/14: IBM agreed to pay Global Foundries
1.5B to take chipmaking unit according to Bollomerg. Announcing that and earnings
Monday morning. -Anonymous-Comment
10/19/14: IBM to make major business announcement
7 a.m.,Monday. Imagine we at EF and BTV are about to learn our fate -Screwed
in EF-Comment
10/19/14: Shocked to hear about the departure
of a "bleeds blue" tech from the Fab in Essex. Working for GF now
in Malta. Inials...GP. They walked him when he gave notice. -Anonymous-Comment
10/18/14: Electronic cigs are subject to surcharge
as well peeps."Under the rules, use of any tobacco product four or
more times a week on average in the past six months could subject someone to
the tobacco surcharge." << this disclaimer is on Kaiser/BCBS/Humana
and any other HC company that IBM uses. -slimandtrim-Comment
10/18/14:http://qz.com/283216/facebook-is-now-bigger-than-ibm/
-16YrsandCounting-Comment
10/18/14:"We found out that this person
is a manager. It is illegal for managers to ask for membership numbers. Let
this be a fair warning." It is well known that management cannot interfere with union activities
by federal law and is so posted on the Alliance site. I think the CWA should
make this manager an example and prosecute him to the fullest extent of the
law. I?m sure that the executives would rather fire him then go to court again
like they did over the ?Banner on the Van? at the Poughkeepsie plant, which
by the way the company lost the case. -A non-mouse-Comment
10/17/14: Bless their withered hearts! Management
just sent out their utilization requirement email for 4Q quarter. 3 weeks into
4Q. Leaving 9 weeks left to get to 110% utilization overall. Oh, by the way,
Saturday the 18th of October was declared a work day (on Wednesday the 15th).
And, how can we forget the QIS Summit on Saturday November 15th! (Is QIS latin
for "it will hurt when you sit down"?). Plus, plus, we get the privilege
the actual privilege of making up all holidays in 4Q in addition to any vacation
days shifted into 4Q (at their request to make numbers in earlier quarters)
to meet their goal and get their bonus! Wow, aren't we all just so fantastically
lucky!? Maybe we will be asked to make bricks without straw! I would ask for
God to have some mercy on their corrupted souls but I don't think he will be
able to as they sold them to the Devil. -Joshua-Comment
10/17/14: Hearing rumors of US SWG cuts end of
the month, whether we make earnings or not. -hereitgoes-
Alliance reply: And what do you suggest you and your co-workers should do about
it? Comment
10/17/14:-waitingforRA- My contacts
are hinting next RA round will likely be in early November with early December
departure. SWG to be most heavily hit - STG was cut to the core earlier this
year and is barely functioning. Many STSMs and DEs are finding it easier to
join other companies, business partners, or strike out on their own that hang
around and fight for a union. Unfortunately these folks, along with customer
facing marketing and tech sales (*NOT* services or manufacturing, they are seen
as a commodity) are the ones that have to be convinced to allow the union to
get any traction in IBM. -Anonymous-Comment
10/17/14: I don't really get this EPS drama that
Ginny and her pets are up to. Why can't they just buy back all shares except
one, then pay $20 to the shareholder who holds that one share, declare the milestone
or whatever as done, and get back to actual business? -EPS is BS-Comment
10/17/14:
Alliance says: "We found out that this person is a (IBM) manager. It
is illegal for managers to ask for membership numbers." IBM management doesn't release employment numbers in the USA and also doesn't
announce exact RA numbers.
Dirty pool IBM!!! You're not to ever be trusted! What further proof does anyone
reading this comments section need to know why a UNION is NEEDED NOW? And if
you haven't joined the Alliance what R U waiting for??? -IBMUnionNow-Comment
10/17/14:http://www.forbes.com/sites/greatspeculations/2014/10/16/ibm-earnings-preview-what-we-are-watching/3rd QTR results were NOT announced yesterday afternoon. Now IBM
says 10/202014. No reason or explanation given or even a "we just gave
out wrong date" Do you believe them? What the heck is going on? One might
think a new flavor of Kool-Aid has been delayed by WATSON coming from Armonk(?)-da_facts-Comment
10/17/14: As a warning to anyone who thinks it
would be a cleaver idea to lie about being a smoker to save $50.... Know that
lying can totally invalidate your insurance coverage. Even if you come down
with something totally unrelated to smoking, IBM can refuse to pay AND fire
you with no severance and no unemployment. There is case history on this.
-Anon2-Comment
10/17/14:"How exactly can they put
a surcharge on smokers if they don't know you smoke? - bennythebouncer-"This is not an IBM policy but rather the policy of the stricter health
insurance plans IBM has made available. Whether or not you choose to disclose
your smoking habit, it is between you and the health insurance provider. IBM
does not care. If you lie about your smoking and later on need medical attention
that could be associated with smoking, the insurance company can deny benefits.
It has nothing to do with IBM.-The Doctor-Comment
10/17/14: I agree with others that we shouldn't
divulge our total number of members for IBM to see but that we do say how many
join every month to spur others on to join. -another member-
Alliance reply: Good suggestion. We also want this comment section to know that
recently we were being pushed by a commentor to say how many members we had.
We found out that this person is a manager. It is illegal for managers to ask
for membership numbers. Let this be a fair warning.Comment
10/16/14: I thought the 3Q earnings call was
supposed to be tomorrow, looks like it got moved to Monday. Guess we needed
more time to move the shells around. Can't wait to see how that comes out.
-ReadTheTeaLeaves-Comment
10/16/14: Why IBM's 3Q results were rescheduled
from today Oct 16th to Monday Oct 20th the last moment just like that? Any ideas?
-NotGood-Comment
10/16/14: I left in May 2007. It's now October
2014. I still see the same posts on here I've seen for the past 7 years. You
are fighting the good fight, but the people posting are still not joining up.
I give credit to Alliance for hanging in there but it's clear the workers at
IBM are not willing to do anything about the abuse. All I can add to this is
that there IS life after IBM. Good luck to all this holiday season. They like
to get rid of lots before Christmas. -Gone_in_07-Comment
10/16/14: "But first and foremost, we're
about people. DiscoverLife@IBM"
IBM has not been about people since Lou was CEO. He destroyed the entire culture
of IBM. Sam and Ginny have followed in his steps. We need a union. Respect for
the individual no longer exists in IBM. -ANA-Comment
10/16/14: Anyone heard if layoffs are coming
for Feb 2015 or sooner? -waitingforRA-Comment
10/15/14: How exactly can they put a surcharge
on smokers if they dont know you smoke? Just lie. Enrollment is done by each
IBMer privately and your manager has no way of seeing your info. What smoker
in their right mind would pay this? A dipsh*t maybe? -bennythebouncer-Comment
10/15/14:-non-smoker-: Hear ya! Next
will be if you are male and drink more than 2 drinks a day or female and more
than one drink a day IBM will make you pay more since that is over the considered
healthy daily ethanol allowance. IBM will make you pay more, for say, if you
are diabetic, or have another chronic pre-existing condition would shortly come
next. All this can be used for RA demographics for the next roadkill group.-non-drinker-Comment
10/15/14: I don't see anything in this forum
about the two week furloughs imposed upon U.S. employees. Has no one reported,
on this? -dinotwo-Comment
10/15/14: non-smoker At my wife's place of employment
they put a policy in effect which raises the insurance costs for smokers v non-smokers.
They have you sign something that says you do not smoke and it authorizes them
to test you at anytime to verify it. They have never verified my wife but legally
they can since she signed the form. I wonder if they are going to also do away
with the healthful living rebates? -longtimebeemer-Comment
10/15/14: Great music video about offshoring
jobs and unemploymenthttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwPAcDC2AMc
-member-Comment
10/15/14: This is from an IBM job posting on
LinkedIn:
"At IBM we're developing new ways for people to think, interact, manage
their businesses and govern their lives. But first and foremost, we're about
people. Discover Life@IBM"
I find it very sarcastic - first and foremost, we're about people. Yeah maybe
shareholders. -CanadianStaff-Comment
10/14/14: So, I don't smoke, but saw notice that
for 2015, IBM is imposing a $600 surcharge on smokers for health care premiums.
Not really job-cut related, but what's to stop them from surcharge on any manner
of private, lawful lifestyle choices? What's next? a BMI premium? Is it fraud
for people who deny they smoke and are later"outed" by information
contained in medical records, what Doctors put in your electronic records or
the profiles on webmd or health rebates? This is creepy. -non-smoker-Comment
10/14/14: Changes coming..announced in an executive
blog. It seems that services groups are being "consolidated". Not
sure what this means yet but expect more axe work in time for earnings announcement.
-time_to_move_on-Comment
10/13/14: After several years with IBM I have
come to the following conclusion it is CEOs and Executives practice at IBM to
have massive RAs between Thanksgiving and Christmas. This is done so CEOs and
executives can get their bonuses at the end of the year. IBM US employees need
a union to stop this corrupt practice. -ANA-Comment
10/13/14: For those of you still left at IBM,
for goodness sake, wake up. The Senior Executive team, in their quest to stumble
and successfully destroy IBM, while mounting their own fortune, will come and
get you. Unless you join together and unionize, they will get you. Nothing to
stop them and they do so seeing you all as helpless and dumb. Unless you join
together soon, prepare for your last day in the company coming sooner than you
plan. -Wake Up Everybody-Comment
10/13/14: Highly Educated, Unemployed and Tumbling
Down the Ladder --http://www.nbcnews.com/feature/in-plain-sight/highly-educated-unemployed-tumbling-down-ladder-n219451
Wayne Little can attest to this. An MBA who worked in sales at IBM for more
than three decades, the 60-year-old has been looking for work after being laid
off more than two years ago. Of the poor folks whose plights are highlighted
in this article, only one of them actually had the employer from which they
lost their lucrative job mentioned by name (& not only once, but twice):
IBM. Mr Little (in Southbury, CT) is also featured in the embedded video. More
positive PR for IBM.-@N0NYm0U$-Comment
10/12/14:http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/on-it/ibm-sees-watson-as-moneymaker-but-only-in-the-long-term/2014/10/10/0cae16fe-4f23-11e4-8c24-487e92bc997b_story.htmlIBM sees Watson as moneymaker, but only in the long term
About 10 months after creating an independent business unit for Watson, IBM
is still figuring out how to derive significant revenue from the computing system
into which it plans to invest at least $1 billion.-Anon-Comment
10/12/14: I was cut in the contr pool in Austin.
Do not know for sure how many were cut. I am not the only one that is for sure.
-Cut in the Contr Pool-Comment
10/12/14:"...no longer post membership
numbers on this comment section. It gives IBM too much information."I Hear your point here but...The Alliance has nothing to hide so they are
willing to announce their numbers.
The Alliance is not afraid of IBM learning the Alliance member NUMBERS ONLY
(and believe when the Alliance says if you are a member they don't ever disclose
your name to IBM since it would further hinder and even destroy the Alliance
union movement being actively done as I text this by the Alliance@CWA union
organizers in IBM and not at IBM). Does IBM release it's employee numbers? Heck
no! What is IBM afraid of if they do? Giving us too much information? IBM continues
to obfuscate and hide their numbers information and the question is a big: WHY?
So join the Alliance so they can give out higher member and supporter numbers!-IBMUnionYES-Comment
10/12/14: Another D-Day for IBM on 10/16/2014
after 4PM EDT USA: 3rd QTR results announced Prepare for the inevitable to follow:
RAs -da_facts-Comment
10/11/14:@Anonymous Coward, STG is
not the only division STSM's and DE's are leaving from. PhD's are also bailing
from Research taking jobs at Google and private sector. Big Data and Analytic's
are the hardest hit. -GoneToo-Comment
10/11/14: Not all new hires are waiting to see
which side wins. Some of us 2014 new hires are supporters of the Alliance. But
for a first job the salaries are very high and there still IS lots of opportunity.
Personally, I am looking forward to getting just enough experience and leaving
IBM by the 5 year mark. No long term careers at IBM will exist without the Alliance,
that's why I'm planning my next move. -anonymous-Comment
10/11/14: Just an FYI, IBM trimmed the fat on
us USA-Based sub-k / contractors a few weeks ago. It was a total slaughter.
I was cut even though we had a budget for 3 more people and numerous external
and internal customers.
IBM is definitely cutting every which way they can, if you are a contractor,
GET OUT NOW! If you are a full-time IBM Employee, you better start looking for
a new job or get your fellows to join Alliance en masse. Now that a ton of contractors
are gone, who do you think will be next? Good luck! ~ -Ex-IBM-Contractor-Comment
10/11/14:-lastdino1- First, as an Alliance
member, let me ask you 2 questions point blank:
Are you a member? Have you ever been one? I'd like to know that. I can tell
you that I never had any IBMers tell me they wouldn't join because the numbers
were low. I never had anyone say why they wouldn't join. Either they signed
up or I never heard from them again. And I'm not talking about 100's of IBMers.
Between 8 and 15 out of a department, or so. I never got a serious NO. Most
comments were, "Ok. thanks for the information." Or " Yeah I'll
check it out, because I agree that we need to do something". Those kind
of comments. Nobody I talked to was worried about numbers. Most wanted to know
what the rules for organizing were, so that they wouldn't get fired for breaking
them. But most of all, they all were open to DOING SOMETHING!
So this is why I asked you, -lastdino1-. Is it worth it to take a risk
or not?
Because at the end of the day, being a member of Alliance is a hell of a lot
better than sitting around waiting until the numbers or the enthusiasm gets
better from other IBMers. Once I saw a little sign that my manager put up in
her office:
"Some people Make it happen.
Some people Watch it happen.
Some people Wonder what happened. Which one are you?"
And that sign was in a manager's office! Can non-manager IBMers "Make it
happen"? You tell me. -membertoo-Comment
10/10/14: DE's and STSM leaving on droves everywhere
in STG. Those remaining are frequently popping up in new organizations. Looks
strange. I should divest from all IBM stock in preparation for for 2015. I suspect
it's going to take a hard fall. -Anonymous Coward-Comment
10/10/14:-Membertoo- has pretty much
hit it on the head. Its the new IBMers way to only join in an action once they
are sure its going work. They must be very cautious to only team up with the
winning side. Take a chance? Not a chance. Congratulations IBMers . You have
dawdled and procrastinated long enough that you are pretty well irrelevant now.
2015 is here in less then 3 months and you have done nothing to slow the roadmap
to your own destruction. Do not dare to complain about anything that happens
to you in 2015. You were warned and cajoled repeatedly. Reap what you have sown.
-Exodus2007-Comment
10/10/14: I would suggest that we no longer post
membership numbers on this comment section. It gives IBM too much information.
Let us build the alliance everywhere and spring onto IBM a dues paying membership
in the thousands by new years day! -another member-Comment
10/10/14:To MEMBERTOO: 100% agree.
Thanks. I do not understand all these IBMers who continue to stick their heads
in the sand about the greed of IBM headquarters and what they have done to a
once-honorable company. They are blind and deaf to what their inaction on behalf
of the union is doing to all of us who are not executives. It rankles to think
that many of these people are Americans who have forgotten what we are supposed
to be standing for and still accept the tripe of Milton Friedman's economics
(a fallacious and dangerous redefinition of "free market") when his
theories have proven so destructive to the promise of America and have only
encouraged the rapacious IBM Board and executives. It's a crude stretch to make
this analogy, but I think of Martin Niemoeller: "and then they came for
me...." I laugh when I think that Friedman himself probably agreed with
Niemoeller but never thought that his theories were the very antithesis of what
Niemoeller was saying. -Fed Up-Comment
10/10/14: -membertoo-:
you mentioned you tried to recruit new members but what were the reasons
that people would not join. Find out what the general consensus was should be
helpful in how to target employees to join. -lastdino1-Comment
10/09/14: I've been a member for over a decade.
Paid the dues, tried to get IBMers to sign up and have gotten more from Alliance
than they have from me. Never was I concerned that the numbers were too low
to join. And never did I hear ANY IBMers, when I was trying to get them to join,
ask "How many members you got so far?" Any IBMer that asks that question
is NOT seriously considering anything except mocking Alliance. I say join Alliance
and fight for a union, or just Shut Up and take an RA or a paycut or a furlough
or a benefit loss or any abuse that IBM management can dish out. Or just quit
IBM and go work at Wal-Mart if you don't want to stand up to the FUD that IBM
continues to spread about unions and a written agreement to make your work life
better. Go on. Get out of here or join the union. Quit the interrogation and
false interest. That pisses me off. -membertoo-Comment
10/09/14: Actually, it's not 20% of your time
will go to training, it's"up to" 20% of your time. So you could only
be given time to do 1 hour a week of training and still get your pay docked
10%. And the CAMSS training is IBM-specific, so don't dream that this will help
you in the industry in any way. -AtBigBlueWithTheBlues-Comment
10/09/14: To the people who keep asking for membership
numbers, know this: Most unions would have walked away from you years ago because
of your low support. CWA and the Alliance have stuck with you. -member-Comment
10/09/14: All STG design and manufacturing employees
must complete a CAMSS skills questionnaire this month. 5 will get you 10 that
within the next 6 months, STG will see the same 10% pay cut nonsense they're
seeing in GTS because we're not properly trained. -KindofBlue-Comment
10/08/14: Can we please get an answer to my question
posted on October 1, as follows:"A question to the Alliance: You state that 51% of non-management employees
need to sign up to prove there is a majority in support of a union. Please tell
us, what percentage have signed up so far? Maybe this information will motivate
others to sign to reach the goal! Thank you." -Anonymous-
Alliance reply: We have answered this question numerous times in the past.
We have about 280 dues paying members and 5200 supporters. Not all are current
employees.
You do the math. We are very far away from 51% anywhere.
This information, which IBM also sees, has not motivated IBM workers to join.
Why haven't you joined?
Last month the Alliance web site had 165,000 visits and 48,000 unique visitors.
Lots of interest but little in the way of membership building. IBM managment
is laughing at you for not supporting the only organizition that supports IBM
workers.Comment
10/08/14:http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/story/news/local/2014/10/08/cuomo-monitoring-ibm-globalfoundries-talks/16928093/Gov. Andrew Cuomo said today, Wednesday,
the state is "monitoring" negotiations between IBM Corp. and GlobalFoundries
as IBM looks to sell its chip manufacturing facilities, a move that would have
a dramatic impact in New York and notably in East Fishkill.
New York plays a critical link between the two companies: They are both heavily
invested in the research at the Albany nanocenter, giving the state unrivaled
leverage in a potential sale that could affect many of the roughly 14,000 IBM
jobs in the state.-Anon-Comment
10/08/14: The "2 Indians for 1 American"
thing is all about headcount. Department size and project teams are measured
in headcounts, not salaries. A few years back, the rule was that if you had
approval to hire one headcount, you could hire one American engineer, or two
Indians, or three Chinese. And we were encouraged (in many cases, compelled)
to go for Indian or Chinese engineers. -16YearsAndCounting-Comment
10/08/14: Take this article in perspectivehttp://mobile.nytimes.com/2014/10/08/business/30000-lose-health-care-coverage-at-walmart.html Consider T2R (Transition to retirement folks) work less them
30 hours, the folks needing education come close, if you add in lunch time (4x45min)
they meet the criteria of less than 30 hours. What is to stop IBM from dropping
their health care? -Anon-Comment
10/08/14: IBM's Ginni Rometty Reveals Watson?s Future --http://techcrunch.com/2014/10/07/ibms-ginni-rometty-reveals-watsons-future/"She also had Watson run a test to determine whether alternative
energy should replace fossil fuels."
How about asking Watson how to create positive revenue in a quarter?
-@N0NYm0U$-Comment
10/08/14: Overheard at RTP: Bld.205 is going
to be torn down. if true this is really sad. IBM going to great lengths to cut
costs. With x86 gone its quiet at RTP. -anonymous-Comment
10/07/14:@longtimebeemer. The internal
burden rate for a Yorktown Research employee used to be $200K/yr. It did not
matter what the employee band level was. -Anon-Comment
10/07/14:
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-10-07/ibm-said-to-resume-talks-to-offload-chip-unit.htmlIBM Said to Resume Talks to Offload Chip Unit
IBM and Globalfoundries Inc. have resumed talks for IBM to offload its money-losing
chip-manufacturing unit, according to a person familiar with the matter. Negotiations
had broken down in July after IBM offered to pay Globalfoundries about $1 billion
to take the unit, a person familiar said at the time. IBM is now willing to
pay Globalfoundries more to take over the operations, the person said yesterday,
asking not to be identified because the discussions are private.-Anon-Comment
10/07/14: Please be advised in Australia this
week there will be a large contractor cut likely to hit on Friday possibly up
to 1/3 of the work force for GTS SO delivery. It has been reported to the DPE
community that this is due to a large short fall in projected revenue in Q4.
We have been told that there will be further cuts during Q4 and this is just
the start. We are to begin looking at how we have "Go Slow" delaying
and deferring customer revenue generating RFS and BAU work into next year.-AUSDPE-Comment
10/07/14: An interesting book on IBM of yesterday
and today ...on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/View-Beneath-Dancing-Elephant-Rediscovering/dp/0983373469A View from Beneath the Dancing Elephant -joe-Comment
10/06/14: IBM CEO Ginni Rometty gets past the Big Blues --http://fortune.com/2014/09/18/ginni-rometty-ibm/Oh, such a rich trove of points to attack; I'll just highlight
one:"Ginni's Rules
1. Don't protect the past.
2. Never be defined by your product.
3. Always transform yourself." Definitely succeeded on #1 -- the past has been totally destroyed &
with it, all the good was learned...-@N0Nym0U5-Comment
10/06/14:@IBM$uck$ A few years ago
the burden rate for a US employee was about eight times what the burden rate
was for an Indian employee. I don't know what it is today but I am sure you
can still get a lot more that 2 Indian employees for 1 US employee. -longtimebeemer-Comment
10/06/14: Seems like almost all the firms are
following IBM's path. wonder who is the worst amongst the lot. None the less
this financial engineering will not work when rates rise. The imputed loss of
EPS works exactly in reverse as how the EPS has risen during buybacks.http://www.businessweek.com/news/2014-10-06/s-and-p-500-companies-spend-almost-all-profits-on-buybacks-payouts-impending_depression-Comment
10/04/14:"IBM's 2 for 1 Deal: 2 Indian
employees for every 1 American employee."
It is LESS than 50% that IBM pays an Indian to do a same American IBM job. -IBM$uck$-Comment
10/01/14: x86 sale to Lenovo is a delayed cloaked
IBM RA. When you deal with China corporate you have to try to trust a communist
government. Do you? China only cares about politburo members and the NWO filthy
$rich$. So you think Lenovo gives any thought to a transferred IBM American
employee?-DeadRed-Comment
10/01/14: IBM used to pay for training and even
encouraged employees to take courses to stay current with their technical skills.
Employees even were paid 100% of their pay when taking IBM Education courses.
IBM managements decision for a 10% education pay cut is foolhardy. Ok, IBM management
when you go to the hollowed grounds of the Armonk MDC you should also be getting
at least a 10% pay cut too! Not only new IBM manager training but the experienced
ones too that never see a PBC 3 just because they are IBM management and "better"
than the PBC 2+ or higher employee (double standard).-WatsonTraining?-Comment
10/01/14: Why doesn't the Alliance try to segment
the IBM population to achieve the 60% needed for a Union? That is an achievable
goal within Microelectronics/STG, but not within IBM as a whole. If the Alliance
tried to Unionize IBM division-by-division, it would have a lot better chance
of succeeding. -RA'd in 2014-
We have attempted that in Fishkill and in Vermont and at some stand alone sites.
We haven't gained enough verifiable support.
And what we mean by verifiable support is workers taking the step of joining
the Alliance in any of our 3 membership categories. We can't base support on
wishful thinking.Comment
10/01/14: Alliance, would you please explain
what you mean about signing a card in favor of a union? I'm a member, but I've
never seen any kind of card. -Anonymous-Alliance reply: Signing authorization cards is further
into the process and we haven't got there anywhere. They also have a shelf life
of about 6 months. Authorization cards get signed when the location or site
is very hot to organize.
What the Alliance does is gauge that support by those joining the Alliance and
then working to get others signed up.
For instance we had one location where we had 2 organizers inside. They tried
to get others to join the alliance as a show of support for moving the organizing
along. It never reached the critical mass we needed.
It is up to IBM workers to visibly show their support for a union by joining
the Alliance in any of our 3 categories of membership. There is also a lot of
info on the main page of our web site on the left pull down menu that says "organizing".
Comment
10/01/14: A question to the Alliance: You state
that 51% of non-management employees need to sign up to prove there is a majority
in support of a union. Please tell us, what percentage have signed up so far?
Maybe this information will motivate others to sign to reach the goal! Thank
you. -Anonymous-Comment
10/01/14: 'Blue Points" are not what they
seem. You have to pay a tax on the points and in the US it is 25 cents per points.
Once you accept the points, the tax is automatically deducted from you pay.
So with 9600 points, you would pay a tax of $2400. If you look at the catalog,
almost all of the items that you can purchase with your "points" are
worth less than the tax you paid to get the points. Shame on IBM even offering
this great deal. -Anonymous-Comment
10/01/14: During the tough time of the great
depression, Thomas Watson actually increased investment in employee training
- and he did it without stealing money from employee's pay packets.
-Ginni_is_No_Watson-Comment
09/30/14: What do you do with the 9600 blue points?
-Yes, Virginia that was a failure-Comment
09/30/14: Concrete proof a union would be beneficial:
"DAYTONA BEACH? General Electric, which at one time employed thousands
of workers in Daytona Beach, is dropping health benefits for salaried retirees,
effective Jan. 1, 2015. The changes by GE will not affect retired hourly employees
whose benefits are covered by union contracts." NO UNION, NO RETIREE BENEFITS,
EMPLOYEE UNION = RETAINED BENEFITS. WHICH PART DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND?
-CONCRETE PROOF-Comment
09/30/14: In Microelectronics, things are not
good. The time may be ripe for a vote. Rumors abound regarding the sale of the
division with unknown consequences. In East Fishkill, managers are leaving the
company en-masse. Employees are leaving. "Dear Colleague" letters
appear in my in-box on a weekly basis. Years of personnel recruitment efforts
are vanishing before our eyes. Morale is horrible. It wasn't this bad in '93.
It is very bad. When directors and middle managers resign, things are not good.
From my observation and in my opinion, a significant majority would have no
problem approving CWA representation. Now is the time. -Anonymous-
Alliance reply: You are spot-on...except for one detail: We (CWA) need to *prove*
that a majority (51% or more) have signed up or signed cards in favor of a union.
We need to *prove* it to the National Labor Relations
Board. That's Federal Law and we MUST obey it or we cannot request a union election
any other way.Problem: We (CWA) don't HAVE 51%
or more of the IBM workers (non-management) signed up for the Alliance@IBM CWA
Local 1701. We've preached this and reiterated this point, over and over
and over and over, for 15 years. When IBMers realize that they have the power
to make this happen, that's when it will happen. If you support a union for
IBMers; then do your best to organize your co-workers and tell them what we've
said here. It's up to you and all the supporters and members of Alliance@IBM
to get this message out. We will continue to do the same as long as possible.
Comment
09/30/14: Can some someone please explain these
IBM "blue points"? Are the same as S&M green stamps? Redeemable?
-Huh?-Comment
09/30/14: IBM cutting workers pay by 10% for
training. Gee, I wish all of you WHO got 'selected' for this had Lotus Notes
MAIL EVIDENCE from your manager's saying you were DENIED training when you signed
up for up the training in the not to distance past. Then if you release the
notes maybe the word is out on this IBM sham pay cut and soon to be RAed ploy.
ANY UNION would back for signing up for job training.-did_U_save_R_U_brave?-Comment
09/30/14:to -BeenAroundTheBlock- Actually
instead of repurchasing $14 Bilion in stock true leaders would invest in your
future by growing your business, making acquisitions, and increasing revenues
which leads to having to hire MORE employees. At any other company if you heard
that EPS would double within 5 years from $10 - $20 per share the employees
would be doing somersaults because that would mean the planned increased revenues
would mean hiring big time to support the increase. In IBM it means sell MicroElectronics
to GF so they can take thousands of employees off the books, lose their Future
Health Accounts, and get downsized within a year if you wont relocate to Malta.
But you can only blame yourselves, you refuse to take that first big step by
not signing on to a Union. It's very clear that this isn't going to end well
for the MD employees. -BuyBacks-Comment
09/30/14: Last day for most System x folks at
IBM. Good Luck and God Speed.. -NoBody-Comment
09/29/14: Dear Alliance, sorry I don't really
get your point. You say that if a Union is formed, IBM will sign a contract
with the employees which would help us fight back against their hostile treatment
of employees. Why would they sign the contract? What would you do if they refuse
the sign the contract, and hire other people who are willing to work without
the contract? Can you shed some light on this? I am thoroughly confused.
-Anon2-
Alliance reply: Forming a majority of IBM workers (non-management) that request
CWA to be their bargaining representative is the first step. Once 60% of the
IBM workers request CWA to be their collective bargaining representative, an
"election" or vote is held by the National Labor Relations Board (Federal
gov't agency). This is the law that ALL unions and company management must abide
by. ALL IBM workers would have the opportunity to vote, "for" a union
or "against" a union. When the vote is tallied and the union wins,
the IBM workers become a certified union. From that point on, IBM would have
to negotiate with the CWA Union representatives, on behalf of the workers, for
a contract. The union members can have meetings to decide what things will be
negotiated, i.e. salary, wages, benefits, pensions, etc. Then, both the company
and the union sign the negotiated written contract. For further information
and explanation of how a union gets a contract, please use this link:http://www.endicottalliance.org/allianceibmsimplefactsheet.htmIf you need even more details, send an email to:
ibmunionalliance@gmail.comComment
09/29/14: You don't actually GET the 9,600 Blue
Points for taking the SSCAM "Challenge". You are entered into a drawing
to WIN the 9,600 Blue Points. Cheap sneaky bastards. -LifestylesoftheRichandSlimy-Comment
09/28/14: Repurchase of $14 billion in shares
annually from 2010 through 2013...Now imagine instead of buybacks, no layoffs,
cost of living raises for all, bi-weekly 401k match, and some real employee
education. Happier employees, happier customers, higher stock price. With a
Union contract this would have been possible. -BeenAroundTheBlock-Comment
09/28/14: Corporate values are principles under
which it operates. IBM DOES have corporate values --- namely $15/share.
-Anon2-Comment
09/28/14:"Then there are the post-growth
blue chips who need to substitute financial shuffling for true profit progress.
Consider International Business Machines Inc. (IBM), an aggressive buyback player
for years. The company repurchased an average of $14 billion in shares annually
from 2010 through 2013, materially shrinking its supply of stock. Over that
span, its net income grew only 4% in total (not per year - in total), yet earnings
per share in 2013 were 14.4% above 2010 levels."http://finance.yahoo.com/news/amid-buyback-backlash--what-else-can-slow-growing-ibm-or-bed-bath-do-163617528.html "That's a total of 91 percent of their profits that America's
leading corporations targeted to their shareholders, leaving a scant 9 percent
for investments, research and development, expansions, cash reserves or, God
forbid, raises."http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/harold-meyerson-in-corporations-its-owner-take-all/2014/08/26/0c1a002a-2ca7-11e4-bb9b-997ae96fad33_story.html
-Stop Roadkill 2015 Now-Comment
09/27/14: Funny to read these statements here:http://www.computerworld.com/article/2683239/ibm-cuts-pay-by-10-for-workers-picked-for-training.html
The "funny" part here is that on the one hand side IBM tells people
to educate more, to be better, and reduce salary for that. On the other hand
side I heard from colleagues that their expected utilization was not reduced,
expecting that they take the education in their sparetime.
Come on Ginni ... do you think IBMers are still having "passion" for
that type of business? Do you want to win deals with such a crew? Ok ... I assume
you are gone after 2015 anyway. -oliverro-Comment
09/27/14:IBMer Challenge CAMSS Privacy Statement:Information about you such as your name, employee serial number,
email address, location and business unit will be used to register you for this
program. This information, along with your program completion status and as
permitted by local law, the number of attempts you make at completing each of
the test's modules, will be recorded, and shared with your first-line manager(s)
(in-country and functional managers as applicable) to assist with coaching and
development discussions. This information will also be available to the program
administrator, and it will be anonymized before it further shared. Any survey
you elect to answer will remain anonymous.
Completion of program activities will be recorded in IBM CareerSmart/Talent@IBM
and credited to Think40.-SharkTank-Comment
09/27/14: Don't be suckered into taking the IBM
CAMSS Challenge for 9,600 Blue Points. If you don't pass, you will be candidate
for 10% pay cut. -Anonymous-Comment
09/27/14: First, I feel really bad for those
who got pinched for the"training". I wish you all the best and I hope
that you get through it without too much stress and strife. Six months is a
long time to be losing 10%. Personally, it would ruin my financial life, as
I haven't had a raise in a LONG time. Second, just curious if anyone who was
selected did NOT do the CAMSS training? Was it based solely on that CHALLENGE?
I sense a lawsuit. If it were a challenge, then it was implied that you were
not being graded or judged on your answers. So unfair. -Z1NONBIL-
Alliance reply: So you "sense a lawsuit". That will not help at all,
here. Suing IBM for it's manner in which it hurts the employees with its own
rules and processes, won't fly. Once again, you must understand that you (IBMers)
are "At Will Employees". US labor laws; whether State or Federal do
NOT protect you from IBM's decisions regarding their own programs and rules.
They make those rules and they can break them whenever they please. However,
once they sign a contract with the employees, collectively, then the rules are
written down for everbody to obey; especially IBM execs...and they are legally
binding, too.Comment
09/27/14: I follow the discussions regarding
"IBM is testing if they will get away with that...". In my
opinion we just all need to stay professional when doing business: We work with
a dedicated team towards specific customer requirements. Delivering such customer
requirements will drive business (revenue, profit, etc.). If we are now told
by upper mgmt to reduce headcount, we just need to be straight enough to say:
Ok, reducing headcount by N% will lead to reducing profit by X%. It
is on us to make these statements! In such a situation lets see if upper executives
still want to layoff people in such situations. -oliverro-
Alliance reply: The question is, do you also want "upper executives"
to take you seriously as a group? "We" can accomplish that if "we"
decide to band together and make these demands known as a collective voice.
That takes organizing. So why not organize and form a union to to get these
goals accomplished? "We" can be professional while we're doing it,
too.Comment
09/26/14:ToJerks: IBM doesn't have
any values anymore -Yes, Virginia that was a failure-Comment
09/26/14: To Rusty IBMer: "no funding"
is definitely the story in at least 2 divs. OTJ only (and fake-fake-fake diet
cola Think40 education) for mf and IBM i technical trainees fresh out of university?
Recipe for disaster. Then you have poor TSS staff having unbelievably low salary
caps to replace the trained people who are now deemed too expensive, then when
they are brought in they cannot get training until there are unit wide efforts
supported by brands. The training and education curriculum is a sad joke GTS
matter or not. -Asst Mgr SCAMS-R-Us Inc.-Comment
09/256/14: I wish this company had the same creativity
in developing new revenue producing products as they have in stiffing the working
man and saving their way to roadkill. I am a rep in the field and SO is understaffed
and demoralized to the point they can't meet slas and we can't sell new products.
The SO employees are not allowed to travel to conferences, briefings, or get
educated. I can't see how this can be good for anyone. Revenue will continue
down along with the death spiral. IBM services are the joke of the industry.
Nobody wants to work for IGS. My client laughs at the inexperienced new hires
they bring in, they should be trying to keep loyal employees not drive them
out. -On the Titanic-Comment
09/25/14: IBM is pulling out all the trump cards
to get to the 2015 plan. The 10% pay cut is a test vehicle, if it works, others
will follow. Can't you see by now - IBM does not want or need US workers! This
is why jobs are being offshored, 401k held hostage, RAs for no reason, pbc 3's
at the peak of the bell curve. Before long everyone will take a pay cut or be
cut! Gone from the rat hole and happier than ever. -X-Ibmer-Comment
09/25/14: For those being subjected to this somewhat
meaningless training, I would highly recommend taking every ounce of course
time you can. And then promptly put it on your resume. Organization from within
or no, there are better options than being unhappy in your job.
-LeftInJanuary-Comment
09/25/14: Don't know about the rest of you but
for the last 6 or 7 years anytime I ask for training its "Nope, there's
no money for that". And I'm not alone, we've all been subjected to it.
To then hear that IBM is saying people lack training? Boy, that takes a certain
level of nerve that I wouldn't have thought possible. If it was me selected
in that group, I'd do the training of course. But I'd also be sick an awful
lot and forget about after hours work. No OT, no work, I'm training.
-Rusty IBMer-Comment
09/25/14: Although already retired, I support
the Alliance through monthly donationsand have done so for years. I am now curious
about how a union protects retirees. Is the fight for a union only for current
employees or can it also help those of us who have left the company?
-CURIOUS-
Alliance reply: Unions fight for retiree benefits during contract negotiations.
Most unions also have Retiree Councils. See CWA's here: http://www.cwa-union.org/issues/entry/c/rmc#.VCRVDWddWro
Thanks for your support!Comment
09/25/14: Will Obama's new legislation wreck
Ginnis 2015 roadmap? Now 2017 roadmap or what? -Anonymous-Alliance reply: Even if the new anti-offshoring regulations
have some effect on IBM's method of doing business, IBM workers will still need
to organize. IBM executive management will continue to find ways "around
the regulations". Don't rely on the government to force IBM to do anything
on behalf of the IBM workers. Rely on organizing and unifying the workforce.
It's the only real option.Comment
09/24/14: I suspect IBM is testing the waters
with the 10% pay cut "for training". If they get away with it (which
they likely will with their positive spin machine), they might next do across-the-board
cuts and ratchet up other new and creative cost-savings mechanisms. They want
you to voluntarily quit as they keep twisting your arm harder and harder. Are
you strong enough to stop the tormenting, or will you just put up with it?
-ex IBMer- Alliance reply: Yes IBM is testing the waters. They
have been taking actions like this for years. Why? Because employees keep letting
them get away with it. We offer the alternative if people are willing to take
it. Organizing and unifying IBM US workers makes it extremely difficult to "twist
your arm" when there are so many arms for IBM management to twist at once,
when they are together. Organize.Comment
09/24/14: IBM employees stop your infernal whining!
You need to take action now. If you have been identified as one needing training,
start looking for a job outside of IBM today, as you are now officially an IBM
RA target. While at IBM do not work overtime, take your one day a week to train,
talk to your clients about how your treated at IBM talk to consultants about
the negative culture at IBM. They should intern. Let prospective new clients
know that IBM outsourcing will have a negative impact on outsourced employee
morale. Get organized. Slow deliverables down. Do nothing to avoid SLA penalties...you
are not helpless just unorganized! This will hurt business not help. Be specific
on how much a demoralized work force will cost!...This is business. Fight fire
with fire. -ex IBM exec with integrity-Alliance reply: Disparaging the company to IBM's
customers will not make organizing IBMers happen quicker or any easier. It is
true that IBMers in the US are not unifying their efforts to push back against
IBM Executive management; but it is not the customers' fault. Instead, do the
job that will help the customers realize that the IBM workers want to do right
by them, in spite of what IBM management wants you to do. Executive management
training seems to teach how to divide people, rather than unite them. This is
why executive management is failing. IBM workers are the only ones that can
collectively bring back "respect" to their workplace. That respect
can come from the customers, if IBMers can unify around that principle of doing
right by customers.Comment
09/24/14: ha hahttp://news.yahoo.com/treasury-unveil-steps-curb-tax-204745265.html
-ha-Comment
09/23/14: Ginni what retraining classes have
you taken in the past year or so?
Have you taken:
IBM091 HOW TO BE Persuasive AND get away with it every time
IBM100 How to manipulate corporate profits without revenue growth
IBM1010 How to Manage Stock options for your benefit
IBM201 Make your own dreams a reality for IBM executives
IBM301 Real Vision; Real Leadership
Sounds like you need a 10% pay cut Ginni or maybe a PBC 3 improvement plan?!-Anonymous-Comment
09/23/14: A reduced hourly wage can be a "training
hourly wage" under some US State laws. But to lower a salaried, exempt,
PROFESSIONALs pay might be something lawyers might look into since usually professional
employees are already QUALIFIED (i.e trained, certified,etc.) for their profession
via degree or acquired job training or accreditation. -Think2X-Comment
09/23/14: It's been 15 years since the Alliance
came in to inception! And more if we consider it's roots with the Binghamton
Resistor labor movement! The Resistor movement did not go away and the IBM Alliance
isn't going away either. But we need YOUR support and help! Let's all unite
now and make it a real anniversary. Let's organize now! Let's show IBM we want
to be treated fairly and we don't play with historical dates. Not like the one
Palmisano crafted saying IBM was 100 year's old when it really was not.-IBMUnionNow-Comment
09/23/14: I am one of the people chosen for training.
I have already completed my training that I was told about, plus much more.
I don't understand how they can force me to pay for training that
1) I have already taken &
2) That is nothing special that anyone is not taking.
I don't see how this is legal. I know you are going to say "they can do
whatever they want", but that isn't true. They can "try" to do
whatever they want. BTW I am over 60. -Just1waiting-
Alliance reply; It IS true. Yes they CAN do whatever they want and they continually
try and they are continually successful at doing whatever they want. It IS legal
because they make rules inside their company that are not affected by Federal
and State labor laws. IBM can break their own rules whenever they wish, to suit
teh needs of the business. IBM is careful not to deliberately break labor laws
of the States and/or Federal laws on the books.
You are an "At Will Employee". You have NO mutually agreed upon written
employment contract; regardless of whether it is a "collectively bargained"
contract or an individual one, UNLESS you are an executive who has negotiated
an individual contract with the BoD. The guess here is that you aren't an executive.
When you are able to see that without a written contractual agreement, that
states specifically what IBM can and can't do in regard to its employees; you
will then understand why a collectively bargained union contract is the only
answer to your dilemma...whether you're over 60 or not! Comment
09/23/14: How about executives? And the board?
The GTS group is being retrained in CAMSS? cloud, analytics, mobile, security,
and social? IBM spokeswoman Trink Guarino is quoted as saying in the Computerworld
article. Given that many IBMer's have been with the company for decades, odds
are that other folks have also lacked expertise in these areas.
For example, those technologies certainly weren't around when CEO Ginni Rometty
joined IBM 33 years ago. So, did she give up 10 percent of her salary while
going through that learning curve? And how about the board? With an average
age of 64, they surely required some technical updating? But did they pay for
it with a cut to their $250,000 annual fee? This company needs a union NOW TO
stop this bull s###t. -Ana-Comment
09/23/14: The law on pay cuts:http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/furloughs-hour-cuts-pay-cuts-33484.html
-anon-
Alliance reply: This is good information; but it is incomplete. There is a glaring
omission in this data: Nothing is said about the employees/worker's right to
organize. Nothing is said about "At Will Employment" vs. an employment
contract. Many of these situations, such as furlough, layoffs, etc. can be negotiated
in a collectively bargained union contract. Any employer that does not have
to abide by a union contract, can use the laws and the rules mentioned in this
link, to their advantage and not the employee's.
Be sure to look through the link listed in the above article for more information
on "Your Rights In The Workplace". Here's that link:http://www.nolo.com/products/your-rights-in-the-workplace-yrw.htmlComment
09/23/14: Dun dun dunnnnnn. "I would
imagine within the next month there will be more activity in there," Bullard
said.http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/money/2014/09/22/globalfoundries-tiptoes-williston/16073319/
-FourthQTR-Comment
09/23/14: They may "decline to comment on
speculation .." - but they rent real estate?http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/money/2014/09/22/globalfoundries-tiptoes-williston/16073319/-RAtired BTV'er-Comment
09/23/14: Perhaps the pigs (also known as IBM
management) have made a grave error in the pay for training debacle.This has taken on legs of its own: http://www.cnbc.com/id/102017840
"All in all, it's hard to determine the broader implications of this decision.
Nevertheless, here are a few suggestions for the IBM executive team:
1) Develop and enforce training policies consistent with IBM values,
2) Do not make employees pay for education required by the company,
3) never tell people about pay cuts or performance problems in an email, and
4) Don't be jerks."-Jerks-Comment
09/23/14: Two good articles on IBM latest effort
in education."Advice to IBM management: Don't be jerks"
and "IBM Offers Workers Training and Pay Cuts" http://www.cnbc.com/id/102017840
andhttp://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/09/17/ibms-offers-workers-training-and-pay-cuts/?_php=true&_type=blogs&partner=yahoofinance&_r=0
IBM only provides education now if it does not cost them anything. Most of their
offering are like "Think 40" and "Lunch and Learn" are vaporware.
You get what you pay for...-Joe-Comment
09/23/14: article called Advice to management:
don't be jerks. http://www.cnbc.com/id/102017840#.
-Anon-Comment
09/22/14:-yestrodamus- Low interest
rates is what is driving the record high stock market on Wall St. With low interest
rates the only way to make money is to put it in stocks. If interest rates are
higher then a saver investment is bonds with a more predictable more stable
return. But bonds are at historical low interest rates. Not much bang for the
investment buck.
Some have said in order to make money in this post Great Recession era you need
to already have money or money waiting on the sidelines.
No wonder the middle class is shrinking since they don't have that money to
invest or even to gamble with (surprised that Atlantic City NJ casinos are closing?).
And it kinda makes sense about the "having money already" to be able
to make more money in this economy.
If the Fed Reserve manipulating the interest rates without real regards to the
present economy and job market? You decide.
The way I see IBM likes it just the way it is as long as they make Roadmap 2015.-anonymous-Comment
09/22/14: I read this on a Zolman site ... can
some one comment on this or verify this? The products certainly feel in decline
from the outside. It feels like IBM is sucking the life out of its own products
like you beat dead horse to get an extra feet without ever feeding or watering
it.: "IBM software and mainframe business is already in steep decline.
New applications are invariably being put on low cost IaaS cloud, or specialized
PaaS or DB engineered systems. Lotus has been a basket case for years, Tivoli
is being eaten by the likes of ServiceNow, IM and Cognos suffering from lack
of investment and Oracle/SQL Server superiority, Rational long ago lost to HP,
services losing out to far cheaper Indian companies and in-sourcing to internalise
profit margin. Nowhere for IBM to go from here, particularly with an unmotivated/uncompensated
workforce." -Reader-Comment
09/22/14: 8 hours a week of training for 6 months?
208 hours? Impossible. Any details of the training curriculum released yet?
-BeenAroundTheBlock-Comment
09/22/14: If my manager even thinks of suggesting
me for that training initiative I hope he is wearing a cup. IBM has hired technical
leads and PM's that don't have a clue about technology, those are the people
who need the training and the 10% pay cut. Actually, they are not needed at
all because they have no "value add" to the client. They are all a
drain-waste, which we are supposed to be eliminating. IBM = top heavy = epic
fail Get rid of middle mgmt already, its costing the clients way too much.
-johnny2times-Comment
09/22/14: The geniuses who thought up the retraining
program did not factor in that people from different departments support the
same account. So as each manager identified people for this program they decimated
account support. We have accounts where their entire GTS technical support team
will be at training one day a week. Will the customer be told of this new 4
day a week model?? The SLA penalties alone will exceed any savings from the
pay cuts! -CAMSShaft-Comment
09/21/14: I am curious as the why none of the
comments posted here make the mainstream media. Alliance@IBM, any feedback or
better yet guidance? How do we tell the world what is "really" happening
to the workers at IBM? I think the effort will both bring the effort to the
forefront of labor relations AND publicize that the union is ready and willing
to organize. -Ex IBMer-
Alliance Reply: You need to ask the corporate "Main Stream Media"
that question. In the mean time, one suggestion would be to start organizing.
Don't sit around waiting for the MSM to get "curious'. They never will,
unless a large group of US IBMers decide to publicly make noise and take some
action. FYI...Alliance has its own Facebook account and Twitter account. We
use them both to connect with IBMers in the USA AND the rest of the IBM world.
Our web site has nearly 10 million hits and gets about 100,000 per month on
average. The not-so-big media outlets run our press releases without any hesitation.
Yet, the MSM will not "bite", as in the past. What we have said over
and over and over and over for the past 15 years is still true: The IBMers must
rise up and organize in large numbers and stop sitting around waiting for someone
else to do it. YOU are the union, if you choose to be.And we can help you.If you
choose not, then no one else will really care; most especially the Media.Comment
09/21/14: Just wondering if anyone has any data
about how interest rates affect the current IBM profits, buybacks, borrowing,
etc. The reason I ask, is that if the US Fed raises interest rates next year
as expected, what will that do to IBM's financial engineering? And if the impact
is negative, is there any way to compute just how many jobs would be needed
to be cut for every interest rate percentage increase? -yestrodamus-Comment
09/20/14: People have missed the fine print in
IBMs offer. They are giving 'up to' 1 day of training per week. If you only
get 15 minutes of training per week IBM is still covered. Boils down to a 10%
pay cut, period. -Zeke-Comment
09/20/14: I was on another site and saw this
and it best descibes IBM employment in my opinion:"IBM acts just like a pimp. They hire out their employees (keeping
a nice juicy cut), slap them around a bit to keep control then drop them as
soon as their skills are no longer required. If you are happy to remain in an
abusive relationship then good for you, but I've got more respect than that
and chose to leave for much happier pastures." -dd-
Alliance Reply: And organizing a union of IBMers to address these issues is
also an option. There's a lot more effort involved, that's true. But the reward
that comes from that effort is much better than just letting IBM win and continue
to pimp. Comment
09/20/14: >>> The 'Re-train or
die' memo is so much more offensive given that IBM has effectively frozen investment
in most of its employee training for the last 10 years. IBM management have
created the problem and then turn around and blame the workers for not keeping
their skills up. Sick <<<Oh how true this statement is!!! It's the ultimate irony; and the street
says IBM is making a good move. Such a silly facade out there. -Anonymous-Comment
09/20/14: This is the kind of crap the pay cut
has spawned.http://www.cnbc.com/id/102013220
-anon-Comment
09/20/14: Training. I recall in my past I had
taken more courses then I can remember. Some were on IBM's dime but most were
on my dime. We didn't have a skills inventory but every time I completed a course
I would record it with my FLM. I guess the trick was if you want to advance
you need to take the initiative to get the training. Remember the kids coming
out of school today have the new stuff so you need to keep up. -lastdino1-Comment
09/20/14: Maybe Ginni should be the next NFL
Commissioner? Both IBM and NFL is brand marketing and image. And both clearly
are much the same in how they are going about it (or not). The more things might
change the more things remain the same. -ya_think?-Comment
09/20/14: The 'Re-train or die' memo is so much
more offensive given that IBM has effectively frozen investment in most of its
employee training for the last 10 years. IBM management have created the problem
and then turn around and blame the workers for not keeping their skills up.
Sick. -Anon-Comment
09/19/14: To Alliance: Thanks for the message
about American Airlines agents and the CWA union. Perhaps the ex-IBMers and
IBMers who are still sticking their heads in the sand instead of learning the
lessons taught by IBM since Gerstner and currently being taught by PBS's and
Ken Burns's series on the Roosevelts will join the move for a union!!
-Fighting Mad-Comment
09/19/14: As a former IBM FLM let go last year
I would suggest that everyone who received the note make their FLM put in writing
the deficient skills and any rejections they receive regarding classes they
can't take due to spending freezes. May not save you but will tie the FLMs and
2ne LM up in knots -Mike-Comment
09/19/14: In the press release Trinky says "A
few hundred people in the technology services outsourcing business in the United
States..." NO WAY!! The numbers are much higher. Can the alliance take
a poll to get a better count? -CAMSShaft-
Alliance reply: We've done "polls" in the past and they are not a
reliable way to collect real data. In the past, we were able to calculate the
numbers very closely, using the RA packages. We don't get that information anymore,
either.Comment
09/19/14: To "Who Came Up with that Bright
Idea." -- IBM Education is a sham and has been for years -- go tohttp://www-304.ibm.com/services/learning/ites.wss/zz/en?pageType=page&c=a0003096and try finding courses outside of "Conferences" that
are actually scheduled. When I advised one department of IBM to stop linking
to those "impressive-looking" pages with no substance behind them
and suggested that they bring this to the attention of higher-ups in IBM so
that the education system in IBM could be fixed, I was reprimanded by that department's
VP and by my own manager and told to stay out of it. Received a "3"
at next appraisal. Moral of story: forget about trying to fix things from within;
managers on the inside just try to cover up the truth. Instead, join the union
who will make VPs, Directors, Armonk pay attention! From FIGHTING MAD.
-Fighting Mad-Comment
09/19/14: Ginni's Rules
1. Don't protect the past.
2. Never be defined by your product.
3. Always transform yourself
Ginnis Rules says nothing about how to treat IBMUS employees. Maybe she should
take a history lesson about IBM. TJ Watson would never reduce salaries, reduce
benefits, and have RA's. Under TJ Watson, IBM did not need a union, he had respect
for the individual. Sammy, Lou, and Ginny have no respect and don't care about
the IBMUS employees. Join the Union. -ANA-Comment
09/19/14:http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/story/money/companies/ibm/2014/09/18/ibm-chip-deal-brewing/15849947/IBM, Global reportedly working toward chip deal
IBM Corp. and GlobalFoundries are said to be headed to arbitration as early
as next week in the latest effort to strike a deal for IBM to sell its semiconductor
manufacturing operations.
A source involved in the discussions between the companies told the Journal's
Albany Bureau on Thursday that the sides are optimistic that an arbitrator can
iron out the details. An agreement has stalled in recent months, including failed
negotiations in the past few days, the source said.-Abnon-Comment
09/19/14: If the executive team all took a 10%
paycut, and took training on Leadership, Business Conduct, People Skills, and
of course SCAMS, that would actually INCREASE the number of workers solving
customer problems, since we wouldn't need so many people sacrificing 10% for
the corporation. Can someone provide a list of classes that are required? I
actually tried to take some classes on SPSS, but the classes were not existent.
ha -Who came up with that dumb idea-Comment
09/18/14:It took 19 years to win a union election
here but they did!http://www.cwa-union.org/news/entry/american_airlines_passenger_service_agents_vote_big_for_union#.VBtTn1eKU25
-Alliance-Comment
09/18/14: On April 1st, 2015, SCAMS employees
will receive their regular pay. On April 2nd, 2015, they will have been identified
as"distracted" for the past 6 months and promptly RA'd. Why haven't
people been organizing and joining the union?? What's next? Employee pays for
100% of their medical costs and receive 401k matches only if they've been employed
for 5 years?!?! -Shawn-Comment
09/18/14: Heard directly from a 2nd line manager,
as soon as the smoke clears from this next bad quarterly result, that since
"headcount numbers are too high" in SWG (and probably other divisions),
that many folks will be "encouraged" to sign up for a new program
where you join a business partner but are "still an IBM employee".
Take the hint. -LowMorale-Comment
09/18/14: To grateful, Since Lou became CEO,
the IBMUS worker has lost benefits, retirement benefits, salary increases, lay
offs, a greedy and corrupt group of CEOs and executives. When will the IBMUS
worker wake up these guys have their own contracts, without a union contract
protecting the workers, these ba*****s can do anything they want. They and their
families are well taken care, while the IBMUS employee continues to get the
shaft. Join the union. -Ana-Comment
09/18/14: Ginni and her executive team should
take a 10% cut and get the necessary LEADERSHIP TRAINING they totally lack!
-cut_this_out-Comment
09/18/14: The memo states that workers will need
to dedicate one day per week to training so that they can "focus on learning
and development". It sure is strange that IBM CEOS are going to cut IBM
salaries because their skills are not up to date. Yet, IBM hired the cookie
man Louie to be CEO who knew nothing about computers but came from Nabisco.
It is just another ploy to cut salaries. IBM needs a union -Ana-Comment
09/18/14: my team took a 20% cut earlier this
year, so I feel for those taking a 10% cut now. everyone here needs to understand
that this pirate ship is being looted by the captain and it is not going to
turn around until the pillage and plunder is complete. 2 choices, 1: mutiny
2: get another job. my choice is get another job, i am not a sleazy pirate criminal
like the bastards currently running this ship.... -grateful-Comment
09/18/14:
http://seekingalpha.com/article/2502055-ibm-and-intel-the-end-game-for-ibm-semiconductor
-Anonymous-Comment
09/18/14: Another article on the pay cuthttp://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/09/17/ibms-offers-workers-training-and-pay-cuts/
-Alliance-Comment
09/17/14: Another spin on the 10% pay cut:http://www.cnbc.com/id/102009100
-Alliance-Comment
09/17/14: Here is an article published in Computerworld.http://www.computerworld.com/article/2683239/ibm-cuts-pay-by-10-for-workers-picked-for-training.html-Anonymous-Comment
09/17/14: I hope the folks affected by this retraining
really understand what is going on. You have just been handed your 6 months
notice. You are now working during your severance period. You need to start
looking for work outside of IBM now. Good luck. -BeenAroundTheBlock-Comment
09/17/14: GLOBALFOUNDRIES Acquires IBM Semiconductor
Unit?http://www.semiwiki.com/forum/content/3849-globalfoundries-acquires-ibm-semiconductor-unit.html
-JustSayin-Comment
09/17/14: For those being required to acquire
new skills, are they being told what skills to go after and what classes they
should be taking; or are they at risk of spending six months acquiring skills
only to be told they took the wrong classes? -Glad_to_be_gone-Comment
09/17/14: I am reminded of a Sonny and Cher song.
And the beat goes on. Undeserving people have been getting fired for the sake
of new profit records since 1999. Do not act surprised because the only thing
surprising most of you is your affected this time. Every time a " Resource
Action" is announced you are all told about it even if its to say you are
not affected. Did you all really drink the kool aid and believe that everyone
let go before you was a low performer and deserved it? Time to wake up and smell
the coffee in the Union Hall people. -Exodus2007-Comment
09/16/14: For all those who were flagged as being
camss deficient: If your IBM manager (FLM) or IBM second line asks you a favor
to help with their computer "problem" (having problem with Lotus Notes,
Sametime, Excel spreadsheet, printer driver, internet question, etc.) tell him/her
to join you in the cmass training classes! It's not crass or curt; it's strictly
business. Your IBM management should understand.-IdiotsBecameManagement-Comment
09/16/14:@Lacking Skills: The only
skill you are lacking is that of finding a better job. Well, yes, if you really
want to leave IBM. I say the only skill is not waking up and organizing by joining
the Alliance! If you want to take IBM back as your company! You do have the
power under USA Section 7 Labor Law, but you have to exercise it. -IBMUnionYES-Comment
09/16/14: SCAMS is just another cost reduction
initiative, intended to encourage attrition and avoid costly RAs. IBM wants
you gone. Get the hint? -Anonymous-Comment
09/16/14: The SCAMS training is on top of Think40
hours? What proof will there be that one has learned, a surprise exam in April?
Required pasing "certification"? What happened to Ginni's 24hr customer
response turnaround demand from a year ago, if one is out on mandated 8hr off
work, and a customer CritSit comes up and remaining workers already overloaded
can't handle?. Bet none of the board members including GINI have any real SCAMS
knowledge except for buzz word -LongGone-Comment
09/16/14: Friday when I was told I was "not
affected" by the SCAMS action, I was also told I would get to pick up my
SCAMSed colleagues' work. And no, I'm not getting their 10% paycut added to
my pay. So ALL of the US GTS employees are getting the CAMSS-shaft, one way
or the other. This company is screwing its employees once again, yet most of
you are acting surprised and still waiting for your fairy godmother to come
rescue you. Quit yer belly-aching and join the union. Then at least you will
have paid for the honor of coming here to b**ch. -Suffering-in-GTS-Comment
09/16/14:@Lacking Skills: The only
skill you are lacking is that of finding a better job. The so-called training
is probably going to make it worse. -Anonymous-Comment
09/16/14: As I read the memo, I interpreted the
90% as what you get paid *while training* ... and full salary otherwise. For
folks in GTS that are hourly anyway, isn't this a good thing? Get your full
billable hours then also get paid to train at 90% -anonymous-
Alliance reply: In the past there was no pay cut while you took classes and
there shouldn't be one now. It is just another means to squeeze money out of
workers to help in the goals of Roadmap 2015.Comment
09/16/14: At the end of 2008 IBM announced record
profits. In January 2009 IBM fired thousands of employees. It has continued
for more than five years. This is getting to be absolutely ridiculous. Wake
up and do something, get a job elsewhere, or hide in the shadows until your
turn comes. But don't act surprised when something happens to you when the writing
has been on the wall for the past 15 years or more. -BeefSquatch-Comment
09/15/14: Many hit in Boulder (10%). Really exceptional
employees. The best of the best. Same story from all. IBM, you get what you
dish out. This will certainly have a heavy impact on IBM SO customer sat. What
IBM did was dumb, dumb, dumb. Totally self-defeating. -Boulder Based-Comment
09/14/14: For all those who were not flagged
as being camss deficient - and I mean no disrespect to those who were - will
they be given a 10% pay increase as they will now have to pick up this work?
-CAMSShaft-Comment
09/14/14: Current **rumor** around EFK: Intense
negotiations with GF, GF to buy fab but IBM pay for 14nm production. Maybe announce
oct timeframe. Heard from multiple sources. Will this correspond to layoffs
if it happens? Possible! -bongo-Comment
09/14/14: The lastest SO action is definitely
a SCAMS. I'm an SO employee and was notified 9/12 of my salary reduction and
the 6 month timeframe to improve my skills. Funny thing is I have spent the
whole of 2014 improving my skills and my manager has reviewed and approved my
"skills Update". I have received recognition this year for sharing
my expertise and offered to be a mentor when asked. So just where are my skills
lacking? And btw I have not been offered any assignment to utilize my new acquired
skills. -Lacking Skills-Comment
09/14/14: I don't think that hiring people in
their 20s is done so that during a layoff the avg. age is reduced. I think that
managers look at new hires as more mobile and able to find other jobs quicker
and it saves someone in their mid to late career a job who has a family and
a house to pay for. I think that new hires should be guaranteed employment for
their first 2 years at ANY company. Otherwise, it is just a waste of everyones
time (mentor's training, new hires investment and IBM's money). Here's to hoping
I stay employed. -btvNewHire-
Alliance Reply: Speculation whether IBM uses ages of new hires to lower the
"RA" age average to avoid age discrimination allegations will never
be proven. However, if you believe that IBM "saves
someone in their mid to late career a job who has a family and a house to pay
for", then you are not aware of IBM's layoff history. If you think new
hires should be "guaranteed employment"; then the only way IBM would
ever agree to that would be through a written employment contract---which can
only happen if IBMers, organize and fight for a contract in the first place.
We hope you stay employed too; just like we hoped the thousands of IBMers of
the past that were fired for no reason would have kept their jobs....But hope
doesn't guarantee anything. A contract does.Comment
09/14/14:-fighting mad- I think it
is to late to restore the old IBM culture. The changes have been made over time
and are not reversible.If there is success in starting a union the best you
could do is to develop a new set of working ground rules. Ask your fellow IBM'ers
why they are reluctant to join up and then work to convince them to join. You
need to get some benefits explained to them that will entice them into joining.
Unless you press them the present membership will not grow. Start the hard sell
in the field. -lastdino1-Comment
09/14/14: Ibm announcing 10% salary cuts for
approximately 75% of there SO employees. Ibm is offering them to work only 80%
of there current workload. The remaining 20% is to be used for up training on
new products and services. This is clearly a cost cutting measure disguised
as a benefit to the employees. Statement is this is through April '15 at which
time employees would get their full salary reinstated. Only time will tell if
that is true. Either way affected ibmers are in a tizzy. -Bob-Comment
09/13/14: I don't know if this is considered
appropriate but yesterday. 12 SEP 2014, the "GTS US SO SKILLS DEVELOPMENT
PLAN" was deployed. Many, I have heard up to 70%, of SO staff were informed
they were deficient in (client) SCAMS skills (Social, Cloud, Analytics, Mobile,
Security (SCAMS) - of course "big blue" prefers CAMSS"). For
6 months starting in October those affected are required to dedicate one day
a week (23 total) to skills augmentation. Target skill levels were provided
along with an rduction path. For the same 6 month duration all people affected
will have their salary reduced by 10% (affecting 401K payouts and bonuses).
Supposedly day-to-day work will be rebalanced to accommodate the reduced day-to-day
staffing. -Anonymous-Comment
09/12/14:-Blue no more-: Nice and totally
correct observations and suggestion! You are much, much wise and I wish more
people in IBM would heed your advice! The Alliance has been trying to get folks
to see things this way, for a long time. But you know how tough it truly is...-da_facts-Comment
09/12/14: IBM announces internally a mandate
of 8 hours training per week for the next 6 months along with a 10% salary reduction
during that time. Can you say cost cutting and furlow manipulation?
-Anonymous-Comment
09/11/14: Economic and political systems are
*reflections* of the attitudes and behaviors of people. Instead of trying in
vain to clean the reflection itself, clean up your own heart with respect to
receiving in accordance with what you give, and teach it to others (especially
your kids). People with less self-centered attitudes magically do the right
thing by others. That's how it works.
Until a significant majority of Americans no longer harbor greedy attitudes
of money earned through means other than supplying something of value, until
they wouldn't do any differently were they running the show, the system/environment
will either remain the same or get worse. That's how it goes when a majority
has an attitude of wanting more than a reasonable share, and will do anything
to get it. America, you're experiencing exactly what you collectively *are*.
Make the supreme collective bargain with each other: change your selves, and
the cart (system) will follow you to a nobler place.-blue
no more-Comment
09/09/14: Of course IBM is hiring in the US.
They do a large hiring of unnecessary young workers right before a major layoff.
I had a young lady, maybe 25 hired into an office next to me. Her job was VP
Communication Liaison. She was so excited and felt great. I asked her to think
about her role and what was coming shortly. Sure enough, 6 weeks later there
was an RA. She was let go and many like her. The brought in about 40-50 20-somethings
and they were all let go in the RA to bring down the average age. So, if IBM
is hiring, watch the age. If they are young, they are getting ready to RA. Not
that this is news because the cash from the Lenovo sale will go straight to
RAs. Ginny has been blocked from IBM cash to do RAs. Thus the desperation for
the sale to go through so she can push an RA through. -Anonymous-Comment
09/09/14:One thing
that the Alliance needs to consider is that there are a great number of current
IBMers who are conservative. I am talking about the home-school parent, Bible
believing, anti-government, anti-union types who are willing to take their chances
and drink the blue Kool-Aid. I left IBM after 8 years. Best decision I made.
No more PBCs, no more games, no more lies. -Martin-
Alliance reply: We *have* considered the multi-political and religious beliefs
of IBMers, all over the US and the world since we began. Our former treasurer
made no bones about being a conservative. BUT, he will always be a strong supporter
and advocate of fighting for a union contract, just like the rest of us. The
long history of unions also includes members' strong religious beliefs as well
as Labor and Religious coalitions that stood up for working people and did what
they could to organize workers toward a union contract.
The bottom line is that unions and beliefs in religion are not at odds with
each other. Corporations try to divide people by using "wedge" issues,
to keep them from organizing. Alliance@IBM's position has not changed in those
regards. Our focus has always been to unite workers and bring their collective
voice to the bargaining table and protect their rights in the workplace to form
a union. And that is a decision that we want the IBMers in the US to understand
that they have the right to make, collectively and openly in a union election.
Getting to that point is more than half the struggle; whether you are a Christian
or an atheist, it doesn't matter.Organize.Comment
09/09/14:Peter Greulich
exposes the betrayal of the employee-owner, and the myths of IBM's "leadership"
beginning with Gerstner and his board and of the Harvard Business School model
to maximize shareholder value.
See http://seekingalpha.com/article/2479295-maybe-the-stock-market-isnt-so-dumb-ibm-reaps-a-6-percent-loss-on-a-156-billion-investment?uprof=46&dr=1
Join the Alliance, vote your stock against the current board, support the amendment
to overturn the Supreme Court's "Citizens United" decision, and it
may be possible to restore the real IBM culture by removing power from the rapacious
claws of those who would restore America to the days of the robber barons. I
am "Fighting Mad." -Fighting Mad-Comment
09/09/14:Any one heard
of Qualcomm setting up a center in Fishkill, NY and hiring lots of ex-IBMers?
-anonymous-Comment
09/08/14:Talking to
an IBMer (SWG), they tell me all previously approved expenditure is canceled
for Q3 and must be entered for approval again... IBM cut the fat a long time
ago. Now they've gone through bone and are harvesting vital organs. All to hit
a number that is supposed to be an indicator, not a target. Gross.-quitter-Comment
09/06/14:This article
claims that hiring is happening in the US, maybe they're just pitting workers
against one another.http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/jobs/ibm-now-hires-more-in-us-than-india-amid-tax-visa-worries/articleshow/41848775.cms
-Barb -Article in India's Economic Times ... comments from Indians exposing
the facade of H1B workers -anonymous-Comment
09/04/14:I thought
this video needs to be shared again, since there are rumors of layoffs coming.
So glad to be RA'ed in 2013: IBM/Sterling Commerce Manager Holds Team Building
Project (Employees Color Easter Eggs 2013). Granted it was two days after Easter
and the manager didn't boil the eggs. My manager gave me permission to take
the pictures of our colored Easter eggs. I made a YouTube video and wanted to
share it with past/present and future IBM employees. I hope you like it and
feel free to share it. The whole Easter egg color fiasco took about 2 hours
of IBM time. This happened about 2 months before we got our RA'ed notices. So
if your manager has you doing crazy things, it MIGHT just mean the layoffs are
coming. I would really suggest organizing a union, now and please feel free
to share the video I would like to see it go viral:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIXP2rt1H6Q
-Glad to be RA'd in 2013-Comment
09/04/14:Gorman, executive
director of external communications for Lenovo, about the union's claim. Gorman
worked for IBM says that Alliance union lies that there will massive layoff
in 2015. This guy does not know what he is talking about. That is the IBM way,
send IBMers from IBM to another company and lay them off within a year. All
of these guys are greedy and corrupt. Join the union. -ANA-Comment
09/04/14:I know a
job cut or cuts is totally inevitable in IBM before YE 2014. And this site will
expose it again and again. I wish more people and the news press will notice
it when it happens. Where is the collective conscience of this conniving, lying,
greedy, corrupt, and morally bankrupt IBM executive management team???? How
do they even sleep at night???? -Roadkilled-Comment
09/03/14:Anyone else
find it hilarious that IBM had a global SameTime outage this week? It already
happened for a couple days last week. It's almost unheard of for a large corporation
to have such a large scale communication outage. Gross incompetence. I bet they
outsourced all the good IT people to dirt cheap East Asian subsidiaries (Note:
I am also an East Asian)-Anon-Comment
09/03/14:To all the
posters from US about fake jobs: This might make you feel "better".
Jobs posted by STG India seem to be fake too. I have had a couple of friends
being contacted by an IBM recruiter about"exciting job openings" in
STG. They respond with their resume, and never hear back, despite having all
the qualifications. Sounds pretty normal, but here's what makes this suspicious:
these so-called job openings have been open on external job sites (monster,
et. al.) for over 6 months, and yet, they dont even want to have a telephonic
screening round with a potential candidate. I have even had a couple of friends
who reesigned from the exact same job apply for the same job opening (just for
the heck of it), and they were apparently found to be "not matching requirements".
Bottomline is, this is not a case of IBM management deceiving US employees to
grow business outside, but rather a worldwide betrayal of employees to meet
their own ends. We should stop fighting among ourselves. -Anonymous
from India-Comment
09/03/14:-BlueEyedBlindness-
Thanks for the story. IBM seems to be nearing the Pullman company everyday in
its perceived abuse of labor. I suppose stories of past labor struggles should
be taught over and over to prevent needless repeat of history. I suppose it
is inevitable considering the population are ignorant Starbucks drinking buffoons
who do not appreciate the benefits they enjoy are being removed under their
noses and how past labor struggles afforded them this. Once it is all gone,
don't expect another FDR to bail you out of eternal serfdom for a long time.
The bloody struggles will continue for a long time. -Seeker-Comment
09/02/14:http://gigaom.com/2014/09/02/word-to-ibm-lets-lose-the-long-term-earnings-guidance-and-move-on/On Tuesday, UBS analyst Steve Milunovich said these long-term
projections are not worth doing in this era of tech realignment and that IBM
needs to focus on long-term strategy instead of EPS goals. IBM?s trailing twelve
month EPS is $14.85, so it has a tough row to hoe between now and the end of
its fiscal 2015, which would be Dec. 31, 2016. -Anon-Comment
09/02/14:The majority
of US jobs posted on the IBM Global Opportunity Marketplace are fake. Every
time I apply internally, I am told the job had to be "pulled". IBM
is full of LIES and LIARS. I'm looking forward to finding a job elsewhere, and
I really don't care if it doesn't pay as well. -Anonymous-Comment
09/02/14:This is a
belated article, since Labor Day is "over"; but it still serves as
evidence that the more things change, the more they stay the same:"The True Story Of How One Man Shut Down American Commerce To
Avoid Paying His Workers A Fair Wage"http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2014/09/01/3477726/the-true-story-of-how-one-man-shut-down-american-commerce-to-avoid-paying-his-workers-a-fair-wage/
-BlueEyedBlindness-Comment
09/02/14:Soon Ginni
will be sucking the Morgan Stanley Bonus Stock dry. This is earned bonus money
that many employees won't see. Another company lie. -Over55-Comment
09/01/14:BTV is hiring.
Linkedin has been sending me a job notice for an Advisory Engineer job. It looks
like an H1B "fake-posting"(only one person, the H1B
already in hand, can possibly fit the detailed job description). The fab
is also hiring, I know someone who went [back] to IBM to work. -NotherBtv'er-Comment
09/01/14:-RAtired BTV'r-
it could be a phantom job hiring campaign. I see IBM "jobs" in
the newspaper classifieds all the time and the qualifications are generally
ridiculous for a single human to possess. So then IBM says they can't fill these
"jobs" so they can get more H1B's. IBM can do this since the State
of VT and other States like NY do not know the exact number of IBM employees
and where they are located since IBM does not disclose employment numbers due
to "competitive reasons" (whatever that means I still can't figure
out). If IBM doesn't have to disclose IBM will not disclose and will obfuscate
whenever possible. When was the last time IBM was forthcoming with vital public
information???-FishFooled_in_EFK-Comment
09/01/14:"Ginni just
sold $6.7M worth of stock on 8/27"
Ginni needs it to pay for her summer vacation and for her Labor Day vacation
plans!
Just concern yourself with things you can control: getting organized, get a
union vote, get a contract. Make money and live better! -JohnBoy
Walton-Comment
08/31/14:Hey, if we
don't start organizing IBM, and America in general RIGHT NOW, Management will
take back Labor Day as a holiday. I don't think it is that far fetched. WHO
brought you the five day 40 hour work week, OT pay, benefits, vacation time,
and something called a pension? Oh, maybe Labor Day will be a Management holiday
only since they think they are the only ones working! :) Think about it. Think
Twice.-IBMUnionYES-Comment
08/31/14:Labor day
is a day to respect the workers. IBM has lost all respect for its workers. Just
this week Ginni sold 6.7 million dollars worth of stock and Sam and Lou enjoy
millions of dollars while IBM continues to RA employees. CEO families are doing
great, workers are getting the shaft. This labor day weekend, all IBMUS employees
need to organize and have a union, or this corruption will continue against
the IBM worker. Join the union. -ANA-Comment
08/29/14:Ginni just
sold $6.7M worth of stock on 8/27. Execs get richer, workers get poorer.http://finance.yahoo.com/q/it?s=IBM+Insider+Transactions
-Insiders still selling-
Alliance reply: Workers get poorer until they decide they've had enough. Then
they get organized.
Labor Day is recognized for good reasons, and the reasons are not barbecuing
or going to a park.One hundred
years ago, big business and corporations had a stranglehold on their workers.
The rich kept getting richer and the workers kept getting poorer and dying sooner.
Then they did something about it, because they'd had enough.Thank unions for 8 hour days, sick pay, living wages,
and earned retirement and pensions.Get
organized now. If you continue to wait, all of the gains that were made 100
years ago, will certainly be lost forever. Comment
08/29/14:Not sure
if this is new news to anyone - but there is a small banner hanging on the Essex
Junction tech park sign claiming "IBM is hiring". Guess you do need
people to get product through the line. -RAtired BTV'r-Comment
08/29/14:http://www.marketwatch.com/story/labor-day-is-a-joke-2014-08-29?page=1
-Anonymous-Comment
08/28/14:Wow. Conspiracy
theories and toxic exhortations abound! Look, it's a large company. It's easy
to get screwed over. It is what it is and corporate culture world wide has changed.
Adapt and you can succeed. It sucks, but it is what it is... Responding to it
with hatred and venom won't accomplish anything. Fight from within.
-ChaosEnsues-Comment
08/28/14:More cuts
for contractors in the Dallas area. Roadkill 2015 here we come.
-JS-Comment
08/27/14:-VietVetIRetiredBMer-
It probably has a lot to do with the fact that the US has borrowed an untold
amount of money from China in the past 6 years.
-longtimebeemer-Alliance reply: The IBM business and trade with China
is complicated, by the sale of US Treasury Bonds to the Chinese government.
Also, IBM has moved some operations to Vietnam, for even cheaper labor costs
than China. IBM, not unlike most other Global Corporations, has no loyalty or
patriotic allegiance to the USA or any other country's government. Their single,
eternal goal is to maximize profits. Period.Comment
08/26/14:Has anyone
heard about rummors of IBM selling GBS business Unit? -Anonymous-Comment
08/26/14:Oh, I don't
want to sound too political, but isn't China still a communist country? And
how many wars have we fought against communism? How many thousands of USA lives
lost? At least two (against North Korea and North Vietnam) both we essentially
"lost".
So how come our USA government through the Aug. 15 OK from the Federal Committee
on Foreign Investment in the United States allows USA citizens working for IBM
now, to become paid slaves to communism thru Lenovo???
This is making me physically sick. I had friends that died fighting communism
(backed by China) and now our USA government just follows the money and doesn't
give a damn... PLEASE, PLEASE IBMers join the union, this Alliance. I don't
like where we are heading as IBM and a country. Ok, IBMers won't physically
die in a war, but their careers logically will die with this so-called transfer.-VietVetIRetiredBMer-Comment
08/25/14:-BlueEyedBlindness-
My recollection of Akers was that he actually drove a Volkswagon diesel
Rabbitt to work at least occasionally at the now Old Armonk HQ. He wasn't a
big man but he was taller than Gerstner (who is real short of stature and charisma
and lacks some digits on one hand, hence the TFL references).
I also think Akers had none of the arrogance that was Gerstner's modus operandi.
Yes, Akers tried to hold onto the believe that IBM didn't have to change and
could cling to mainframe revenue.
At least Akers was a man and stepped down. If Gerstner was still in charge and
the BoD wanted to make a change he would be going down kicking and screaming
and demanding a lucrative exit package worth at least a $1B. RIP Jack Akers.
It wasn't all your fault: IBM management underneath was sniping at you, as they
still do now. And now we see decades later it is not totally his fault why IBM
is where it is. -anonIBMer-Comment
08/25/14:It is interesting
how there is no mention in all the media of John Akers post IBM failure in attempting
to start an airline with Frank Lorenzo, nor any mention that John Akers was
on the board of Lehman Brothers when it went bankrupt. Nice try at rewriting
history. -ReWriting History-Comment
08/24/14:As IBM workers
we have power but we don't use it in an organized way. For those IBM workers
being moved to lenovo, DEMAND the same $6000 deal the Chinese IBM workers got.
If managment doesn't deliver take a sick day off all together. If they still
don't deliver, take 2 sick days off and on and on. it is time we stopped being
victims. -Anonymous-Comment
08/24/14:Hmmm, about
81.5K USA IBMers remain. We can only guesstimate since IBM doesn't want ANYONE
to know. Why? a big mystery or master coverup so IBM can get away with their
big State and Federal Tax Breaks. Honest, sincere, disclosure never hurt anyone
IBM, right? Now minus another 7500 with the Lenovo "deal" (paid slave
transfer) for the xSeries. Still think another 4000 will go before YE 2014 based
on RAs, performance force outs MIP terminations) just so IBM might make their
Roadmap 2015 EPS goal. Leaving IBM at 70,000 USA. Going forward I expect another
20K to go from USA by 2020. Probably to Africa or "tech ships" just
off of USA shores. Mostly non-IBM management or "customer facing positions".
IBM middle management and above is safe as always since you gotta fill up 590
Madison Avenue and CHQ Armonk, NY. Just for "brand marketing" the
"smarter planet". Join the Alliance; JOIN THE UNION! Protect your
job. Get a contract. -sby_willie-Comment
08/24/14:I see that
former IBM Chairman & CEO John Akers has passed.http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/24/business/john-f-akers-79-dies-led-ibm-as-pcs-ascended.htmlHe may be the last of the "old school" IBMers. I worked
there when he was in charge. He had no idea what to do about personal computers.
He never even touched one and refused to use one in his office. His beliefs
were entrenched in the idea that IBM was an international"business"
machines (mainframe hardware) company. He really never thought that IBM would
be a "consumer" machines company (ICM). They can say all the BS they
want about his attempt to 'save" IBM from going down the drain; but he
knew the company was doomed. Gerstner convinced the BoD that Akers was too slow.
Akers didn't think so; but stepped down anyway. When the Jackal shows up, you
better leave..know what I mean? RIP John Akers. -BlueEyedBlindness-Comment
08/23/14:http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/24/business/john-f-akers-79-dies-led-ibm-as-pcs-ascended.htmlJohn F. Akers, the chief executive and chairman of IBM during
a turbulent time when the rise of the personal computer undercut the profitability
of the mainframe computer business, died on Friday in Boston. He was 79. His
death was confirmed on Saturday by Edward Barbini, a spokesman for IBM, who
said the cause was a stroke.-anon-Comment
08/23/14:Ok, clearly
some CAs are working hard on this forum. IBM management wants you to leave on
your own. Be advised if you resign/quit YOU GET NO UNEMPLOYMENT benefits unless
you can get a good lawyer and see to it you quit do to emotional distress, forced
out, etc. Usually the grass is greener outside of IBM but sometimes not, especially
salary wise. So treat all "it's better away from IBM" with THINK 2X.
It could be IBM management egging you to leave. Which is what they want to make
Roadkill 2015.-IBMGodISWatching-Comment
08/23/14:Isn't Lenovo
controlled by the Chinese Communist Politburo? If so that explains the $6,000
"deal" being offered. -RedStar-Comment
08/23/14:-IdiotsBecomeManagement-
I think there's lots of questions about it because a lot of visitors are
not from the U.S. It seem U.S. employees are getting screwed more than most
being "at will" employees, in other countries that's not the case.
People see this as an open forum not just a U.S forum. -whatever-
Alliance reply: Alliance tries address U.S. issues first, because "in other
countries" their rules are different; which THEY are very aware of in most
cases. "At Will Employee' policy is strictly a US labor policy of individual
states' rights. Alliance is and always has been involved with "other countries'"
IBM locations, and their labor issues as we understand them. Also, as was mentioned
previously, there are Unions & Works Councils within IBM in other countries
(IBM Global Union
Alliance links).
They have protections and contracts and agreements that NO IBM US employees
have. That is the perspective that US IBMers should consider and think about
making happen here in the US. This is also what Alliance@IBM has been doing
for 15 years...organizing.Comment
08/21/14:Worked for
> 10 years in IGS/SYSTEM X. Writing is on the wall, so left in 2013. Many
talented colleagues left as well. Very puzzled by how it will succeed after
2015, with so many talented ppl leaving -left in 2013-Comment
08/21/14:In the netherlands
and some other european countries IBM has made contracts about severance. In
the netherlands the workscouncil has negotiated a contract that gives up to
24 months severance based on your years employed and your age. So you see that
the company has different standards per country. So i say to my american colleges
get a severance contract with IBM -dutchibmer-Comment
08/21/14:The selling
continueshttp://finance.yahoo.com/q/it?s=IBM+Insider+Transactions
-Insiders still selling-Comment
08/21/14:If you are
still with IBM, you need to update your resume and start networking. The company
has become so short-sighted that quarter results are all that matters for the
2015 management bonuses. Left on my own recently, so glad to be a place that
wants everyone to do well within normal work week hours! - Be Prepared-Glad to be gone-Comment
08/20/14:IBM's Problems
May Be Fatalhttp://seekingalpha.com/article/2441665-ibms-problems-may-be-fatal
-Gorya-Comment
08/20/14:Development
and test schedules in Tucson are being modified (i.e., line items de-committed)
to accommodate resource movement (i.e., certain regulars are being re-assigned
to other managers to be saved no doubt and contractors are being let go gradually
heading into 4Q). You don't need to look at the writing on the wall. There WILL
be more mass firings in the Tucson labs before 2014 401k matches are paid. Better
join the Alliance as you're looking for a new job before you get labeled as
"distracted, disconnected, or disengaged" for 2014. -Shaun-Comment
08/20/14:Although
this is old news, after the strike in IBM China over the sale to Lenovo, the
remaining workers were given $6000 to accept the transfer to Lenovo. How much
did US workers get? Zero! -Alliance-Comment
08/20/14:US SWG services
employees have been told to make sure they charge the full 40 hours every week
they are deployed. This applies to the rest of Q3 and Q4. Things are going downhill..
-Anon SWG-Comment
08/20/14: "One
of the main questions that arises at the time of a layoff is whether severance
will be paid. Many people operate under the assumption that they have a right
to severance pay. There is, however, no general right to severance.That is, there is no law which states that employers
must provide severance pay to employees who are being laid off. Instead, severance
is voluntary on the part of the employer. The employer can offer to pay severance
or it can refuse to pay severance. In general, it is entirely up to the employer."http://www.gss-law.com/CM/Articles/IsThereaRighttoSeverancePay.asp
-stillatIBM-
Alliance reply: Thank you for sending this article to us. Alliance recommends
that ALL IBM visitors to this comments section, READ this entire article for
a better understanding of what rights you have in regard to severance pay without
a union contract or an individual employment agreement.Comment
08/20/14:-China IBMer-
quick questions: If they accept the low package how much time they have
to find a job in/out side IBM or do they have to leave immediately?
-curious??-Comment
08/20/14:I would concentrate
on working towards organizing your coworkers and getting a union contract. This
is what the Alliance has been preaching for. Then you don't have to be curious:
it will all be spelled out in writing! -da_facts-Comment
08/20/14:It's just
'amazes' me to no end that IBMers think they are entitled to severance
pay when IBM RAs them! -IdiotsBecomeManagement-Comment
08/19/14:What makes
the Alliance think IBM would be willing to sign a union contract and negotiate
any terms with the union? All current and future members are "at will
employees", and therefore can be fired anytime for any reason.
-Will IBM respect the Union?-
Alliance reply: You are correct that all current IBM US employees are "At
Will Employees". However, "future" IBM US employees *could* be
unionized and work for IBM and be represented by a union contract. The big "IF"
is very simple. IBM workers need to join Alliance@IBM and continue to organize
their co-workers, until a majority of IBM workers authorize the Communications
Workers of America to *represent* them in negotiations for a collectively bargained
agreement (contract). Organizing and bringing an election of a union to a company
is never easy. There is much work and courage of conviction that must take place
in action, by a majority of IBM employees. If these actions succeed, IBM will
have to bargain with the unionized IBM workers' CWA representatives.For your information: There are already union contracts
and union representation within IBM locations, in several other countries in
the world. These unions & works councils are members of the IBM
Global Union Alliance (Alliance@IBM
is also a member).Comment
08/19/14:IBM and Boston
authorities 'tested facial recognition software' that secretly scanned every
person at two music festivals IBM ran a test of its Intelligence Operations
Center that took over ten cameras at Boston Calling festival in May and September
2013 Each attendee at the festival was run through a facial recognition scan
that identified 'skin tone,' 'head color' and clothing texture, according to
report Operation was run and secret and only revealed when a Boston newspaper
found an IBM report detailing the surveillance that had been posted online.http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2729164/IBM-Boston-authorities-tested-facial-recognition-software-secretly-scanned-person-two-music-festivals.html
-Anon-Comment
08/19/14:"I think
by law they have to give you 1 week per year. If it's a layoff they are suppose
to give you 2 weeks notice per year or pay you out"
If IBM wanted to be more cruel than they are they could fire everyone with trump
up causes (lying on CLAIM, threatening management, insubordination, etc.) and
then not only no severance but generally no UI either. No USA law says a company
has to give severance pay that I know of. Why do you think contractors get no
severance when their work is terminated? -anonymous-
Alliance reply: Ok. Let's flatten this controversy, right now. THERE IS NO LAW
that says ANY company has to give terminated/separated/RA'ed/Retired employees
*Severance pay* at ANY time. Unless you have a union contract, or an individual
employment agreement with your employer that covers "severance"; you
are an "At Will
Employee". The "At Will Employee" policy is in effect in
every state of the United States. All employers that are non-union use this
policy and will continue to use this policy. The labor laws of all states do
not apply to a company's own rules and practices in the work place. If IBM decides
to fire you for ANY reason or NO reason, you have no law protecting you or forcing
IBM to give you ANY severance whatsoever. Comment
08/19/14:This can't
be good - International Business Machines (IBM) Korea is launching another round
of restructuring to counter steep drops in profits, officials said Monday. -http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/tech/2014/08/133_163142.html
-Anonymous- Comment
08/19/14:According
to sources, what happened in China will happen soon in the US -- RA's in SWG.
No numbers, but supposed to be similar to what happened in STG earlier this
as SWG "needs to be right-sized". -Ginny Tookus- Comment
08/18/14:"I
think by law they have to give you 1 week per year. If it's a layoff they are
suppose to give you 2 weeks notice per year" -whatever-Hate to burst your bubble but there is no such law. An employer
only owes you your last paycheck and any accrued vacation - not a dime more.
This is why you need unions so that such things can be negotiated and put in
your employment contract. -Unioner- Comment
08/18/14:IBM China
SWG cut people by 10-15% in the first half of Aug. The package this time is
lower than STG cutting people in Mar. of this year. Manager said if employee
does not accept this low package, the manager will issue PIP within one week.
-China IBMer- Comment
08/18/14:-gone in '13-:
"RAs: They are mass firings."
Sure they are! The Alliance has been saying it for at least a decade but not
enough of human beings outside of the Alliance challenges IBM management about
it. Local, State, and Federal Government does not press IBM to disclose the
mass firing (RA) and drive by snipiring (individual IBM employee MIS) numbers.
You can't count on your elected officials to get this information out. Time
to join the Alliance, huh?-Roadkill2015-
Comment
08/18/14:-IBMer-So IBM USA sells it's paid xSeries slaves to China's Lenovo. Isn't
democracy in the USA great? The USA politicos follow the $$$ just like the Chinese
politborocrats."Pigs and man; man and pigs, and no one can't even tell
the difference."
(Closing quote from George Orwell's ANIMAL FARM). -IBM$ucks- Comment
08/18/14:The standard
package is 1 week per 6 months, so one pay check a year. Up to a max of 24 weeks.
2000 for education and 6 months medical. I think by law they have to give you
1 week per year. If it's a layoff they are suppose to give you 2 weeks notice
per year or pay you out That's why they go the 2 week per year thing. Works
out cheaper. This is for full time not contractors. -whatever- Comment
08/18/14:"what happens
when wall street sees the stock price and EPS growth party is over, with IBM
left as a weak shell of an IT -steve-"That is not important to management or Wall Street. IBM is simply a host
vehicle to profit from. Whether it is left as a dry exoskeleton of its former
self is immaterial to management or to investors. Its more important to wall
street and current management that they profit! That's all. The Watson's had
a personal stake in the company and its people. Current management doesn't.
Today, society has become more secular. Humans are simply resources to use or
abuse, not your brother or creation of God etc.-Fubar-
Comment
08/17/14:Any IBM managers
want to chime in on what is being reported? ie being told to give employees
artificially lower reviews, putting people on pip to force them out? You can
post anonymously here -Anonymous- Comment
08/17/14:-ExIBMerLenovoEmployee-
I don't know what kind of package Lenovo offers but I do know Lenovo calls
it a LAYOFF, not an RA! -longtimebeemer-Comment
08/17/14:Did they
give you the option of taking the severance package before putting on 30 days
PIP ? If yes did they give you a few weeks to find a job internally/externally
if you go for severance package and not PIP ? -curious??- Comment
08/17/14: Your manager can declare your work
deficient at any time, even if you had no change in performance.
1 Week/year is normal for anyone fired for job performance reasons. 2 Weeks/year
is only if there is a declared "Resource Action."
In most states, without a union contract, they legally could fire you with no
warning, no reason, and no severance pay at all. -Anon-Comment
08/16/14:Anyone knows
what type of RA Package Lenovo has offered to those that have been RAed?
-ExIBMerLenovoEmployee- Comment
08/16/14:"IBM says
$2.3 bln server sale gets regulator approval" http://finance.yahoo.com/news/ibm-says-2-3-bln-214535668.htmlI guess this shipped has sailed... best of wishes to all 7500 employees
who found themselves forced to move to a new company in order to please Ginni's
hunger for her 2015 bonus -IBMer- Comment
08/16/14:Cadigan is
nothing more than a richly paid and compensated used car salesman. With no training.
No credibility. A poor salesman at that. Kick the tires at your own risk. He
is trying to get the best price to sell off a still serviceable fab that IBM
doesn't want to invest $.01 to upgrade the line. Do yourself a favor all at
BTV: THINK TWICE! JOIN THE ALLIANCE, sign up for a union, get a vote, get a
contract! It is the only thing you can do now!-IBMUnionYES-
Comment
08/15/14:Say good
bye System X folks - Lenovo deal has been approved.http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-08-15/ibm-gets-u-s-approval-for-sale-of-server-business-to-lenovo.html?-Anon- Comment
08/15/14:A fellow
IBMer from Israel tried to access the Alliance site from IBM's internal network.
Guess what... the access was blocked and a "you're forbidden to access
this site" message appeared.... They are afraid... -IBMer-
Alliance reply: Thank you for the information. This is not news. IBM has been
blocking Alliance@IBM's web site for years, all over the world; not just in
the US.
This is especially true in recent years because we are also members of the IBM
Global Union AllianceAllliance@IBM has always
cautioned IBMers to NOT try to access our site from inside IBM or from IBM internal
servers. It may be grounds for termination.
However, Alliance@IBM is keenly aware that several servers from IBM site locations
inside the US, constantly monitor and access our web site anyway.
It's not hard to prove that it comes from inside IBM; bit it's not easy to determine
"who" is accessing our servers.
We're very glad that this continues to happen. Our web site's number of visitors
is well past 8 million, as proof. Our web site can also
be accessed from your mobile device, if you prefer.Comment
08/15/14:I find it
baffling that everyone refers to "RA's". Let's call them what they
are and avoid the political correctness and soft-selling of IBM's actions. They
are mass firings. -gone in '13- Comment
08/15/14:Mike Cadigan
spoke in BTV and said all is well with new tooling and some new hires (because
of the people that left for GF).
Maybe the good news is now that GF is out, IBM is willing to invest again in
our fab. I hope so... he seemed to think we're good for a while in BTV.
Not sure if I believe him or not though. -John R- Comment
08/15/14:Wasn't the
last RA package in March 2014 offering 1 week of salary for every year of service,
up to 26 weeks? how is that different from the minimized package?
-Sigh..- Comment
08/15/14:Now that
many managers have left the company, the secrets start to spill. For example,
things are really bad when Distinguished Engineers are demoted back to STSM
or asked to retire. Or worse when STSMs and Band9s which represent IBM in standards
groups and boards are laid off. Or the management trend to profile employees
to assign retention bonuses to those most likely to leave. Oh, and let's not
forget the list tracking who is single and who has kids. Where the latter is
less likely to get a raise or promotion because they're less likely to leave.
Add to this the trend to promote based on diversity rather than ability, experience,
or skill and you can see a corrosive culture of epic proportions.
-WhatIfountOutThisWeek- Comment
08/15/14:I've had
enough. I've been with IBM for 10+ yrs. Received consistent 1 and 2+ ratings.
Identified as a TR, Master Inventor, Patents, etc. I participated in just about
every company event and group. However, the management lies and politics are
unbearable, the bonus is pathetic, and the raises are worse. It's a disservice
to myself and my family to stay here. All of my talented co-workers have left
for greener pastures. Other friends outside of IBM work less, have more fun,
and make much more for equivalent experience. As soon as I started applying
the potential employers lined up. Signing bonuses of 50K+ and 50% raises are
fairly common for those in Raleigh and Austin, California and others easily
command much much more. My advice to all is.... Get a job outside when you have
a job inside. When IBM replaces you (which they will!!!) with a cheaper international
based resource, your negotiation power in a new position will be next to zero.
-Band9TechnicalResource- Comment
08/14/14:Totally agree
with some of the previous posts. Stop whining and join the union. I joined several
months ago (not exactly sure when) and really regret that I didn't do it much,
much sooner. -Mary- Comment
08/14/14:-performance2+-
What is the minimum separation package look like ? 1 week for every year?
Also did they give you a month to be at IBM to find a another job in/out side
IBM if you choose minimize pay? Or they want you to leave immediately after
you choose to take minimized package and not PIP ? -curious?- Comment
08/14/14:Seriously
guys, just how much more of this BS do you want to put up with? Roadmap, RA,
PIP, PBC123, etc.
The longer you stay, the more crap they would send your way. Why do you waste
precious weeks of your life worrying about all that? Do as I did: get another
job, submit your resignation letter and get out. I am now totally free from
having to worry about nonsense like "Will I get PBC3?" "Will
I be put on PIP?" "What would be my RA package?", not to mention
the endless sequence of "newsletters" "communications" and"social
messages" from every executive and his dog. In hindsight, I find it amusing
to recall how much time I wasted on that crap. Life is much better now.-CleanPro-
Alliance reply: To all, please do not send any more comments about getting out
of IBM. The purpose of the Alliance is to advocate for employees, to fight back
and to organize. We are not in the business of encouraging people to leave.Comment
08/14/14: A Union could help IBM survive the
current business environment, with a focus on best-practices and standardized
work rules. The picture is always of a union hurting business, but look at IBM's
lack of business success. Getting control on compensation rules and integrating
family life balance would improve moral like is seen at healthcare, education
and agency workplaces, where unions are in place. Pay is higher, vacations longer,
great pensions, great benefits and a successful, happy workforce.
-IBMband10PBC??- Comment
08/14/14:...keeping
to facts, not complaints... Latest IBM EPS = 14.63. Company must boost net gains
~37% or cut expenses ~27% (or both) to make the promised 20. One-time sales
of x86 and chip fab will help to reach this figure, but they are single short
term profits which have to be timed "just right" (if they happen at
all). International tax dodges are a third method, though authorities are getting
wise to these. So, mathematically, there are two "impacts." The 2014
belt-tightening to lie, cheat, and steal so as to get to the 20 number (if even
possible) -- and, then, the post-2015 nuke where all the belt-tightening and
tax dodges and division sales implode, and the real fiscal reality sets in.
I ask, non-emotionally, and non-sarcastically: how can this be avoided? At best,
you have a 27% to 37% chance of losing your job (or being forcibly restructured).
At worst, you have ~16 months before post-2015 armageddon. Call me crazy, but
I just couldn't stomach those odds. -SimpleMath- Comment
08/13/14:Hatred spewed
towards IBM.Instead of being ticked off get even.What is the one thing that
would send IBM reeling?
A union. My Dad was an Ibmer in the 1950's. He and his peers never would have
put up with this crap so why are you?
Hit them where it hurts and show them you do have a choice. -Not
an ibm fan- Comment
08/13/14:I received
my first PBC 3 in 2012 in BTV. When I qustioned it, manager said you just got
another 3 for next year. I never had a chance. Please everyone, get out while
you can. Enjoy your family and health while you still can. -Stella-
Comment
08/13/14:The days
of the big RA package are gone. Ibm wants to trim headcount but doesnt want
to pay to trim. First step is being told your a low performer and offerring
minimized package if you refuse you go on pip and 30 days later they will get
rid of you and not pay anything. Trust me once on pip you wont survive. Take
what they offer and leave and dont look back. -anon- Comment
08/13/14:It seems
like upper management must be getting paid by the email and blog post. The company
has dissolved into a Dilbert-esque parody. Nobody can get any work done because
they are being bombarded by useless fluff emails from everyone in upper management
with pathetic links to their blogs and other ridiculous crap. If people actually
read this stuff, the company would grind to a halt (or hasn't it already??).
Put a fork in it, but RA me first! -Band10PBC1WishingForRA-Comment
08/13/14:'our reward for
surviving past RA's is an inferior package and a couple extra years of circling
the drain'

Well, ya can do TWO things.
1) DO NOTHING and enjoy the Casey Jones train ride and just pick up the IBM
paycheck till RA time

2) DO SOMETHING and ORGANIZE and get some rules and agreements with IBM in a
LABOR LAW ENFORCED CONTRACT which is your right as a USA employee!
-DeadHead4Ever-
Alliance Reply: Thank you. Well said.Comment
08/12/14:Stop whining
.. either join the alliance to protect the workers and build a union, or suffer
in silence. -Mary-
Alliance Reply: Thank you. Well said.Comment
08/12/14:The entire
corporate fictionhood is a scam to allow people to privatize profits, socialize
losses, and avoid criminal charges for wrong doing. IBM senior mgmt. is a pro
at this.-Anon- Comment
08/12/14:-Anonymous-: As
I mentioned in my original post, the lowest PBC I received was 2 and I even
received 1 in the past. I guess they just need to cut even more cost for their
race to hell. -RA'ed-:Thanks for the explanation on minimized separation. That's exactly
what I received.-Ana-: You are right. It doesn't matter how much
or how good you performed. Politics is all that matters. -low performance
2+- Comment
08/12/14:I am so confused
by the comments I read on this page. Everyone seems to 'hate' the new IBM whilst
still in love the old IBM. I get it but I do not get the inaction. Quit or unionize.
The old IBM is gone and has been for years. The new IBM only cares about Wall
Street. Two solutions, quit and find a private company or unionize.
-Ex IBMer- Comment
08/12/14:I assume
this 'minimized separation' of one week per year worked has a max of 13 weeks?
If that's not true and the max is 26 weeks then anyone with 26 years or more
of service will get the full severance. And I agree with other poster that it's
usually offered after two consecutive '3's. I hear it's a one time shot, you
have a given amount of time to decide to take it and if you don't, it's not
offered again. -anon- Comment
08/12/14:Is the low
perf package truly 1 week per year worked? If so, I'd be happy as it would still
be 6 mos for me. What about unemployment? It's still a layoff, so I would think
unemployment would be included just like any other RA, right? -Anonymous-
Comment
08/12/14:The days
of the golden handshake RA are gone, Folks. Our reward for surviving past RA's
is an inferior package and a couple extra years of circling the drain. Hasn't
it been FUN?!? -Anonymous- Comment
08/12/14:I know a
lot of people hoping for another RA. Gee, that's got to create a productive
workforce, huh? The separation package (usually offered after two consecutive
PBC 3 ratings) is a piss poor version of the more generous RA package, which
has been offered to about 4K US employees annually for the last 6 years.
-Anonymous- Comment
08/12/14:-Low performance
2+-, are you saying that they put you on the PIP even though you never
received a PBC 3?!? Geesh, it's getting quite unfair and nasty, isn't it? Why
not just do another RA? Why not just do one big RA of 50% of the US workforce
and be done with it already?!? I am SOOOO SICK of this!!! -Anonymous-
Comment
08/12/14:looking to be
RA-ed-: Minimized separation is one week pay for each year worked. Half
the standard severance. If you leave voluntarily generally you do mot qualify
for unemployent benefits since you quit/resigned your job on your own unless
you can prove you were indeed forced out or was put under extreme duress to
leave. But you usually need an employment lawyer to help you out on that.-RA'ed- Comment
08/11/14:Hello low
performance 2+, Can you explain how much they offered for minimized separation
package. -Medium perf- Comment
08/11/14:IBM performance
rating is a joke. If you pixx off your manager or don't play the political game,
you can be the best performer and you will still be RA'ed. With no employee
union contract, you are at the mercy of greedy and corrupt management. Join
the union -Ana- Comment
08/11/14:-low performance
2+- that is exactly what happened to me in late 2012-- I had always been
a solid performer, no complaints from anyone in my management chain. Got notice
that my performance was"insufficient" and that I has 6 months to improve.
I worked my you-know-what off, and by all accounts my first two levels of management
thought I had fulfilled the terms sent down by HR. But then the summer 2013
RA arrived and I was on it. Guess it was a blessing as the severance was twice
as good. I'm now happily retired. -anon- Comment
08/11/14:Starting
to see the folks who were RA'ed in the Spring show up as contractors and supplementals.
How does an RA really save any money in the short term with a payout of 6 months
salary, lost productivity, loss of morale, lost work product, loss of sales,
etc.? -Ginny Tookus- Comment
08/11/14:Contracts
being let go in Toronto in the past few weeks. Roadmap to Hell is showing cracks.
-TOIBMer- Comment
08/11/14:@-ExIBMerHistoryRefresh-
Thanks for your post and the reminder. You know what's crazy, for 7500 wrapped
up in this "repeat" exercise (I'm one of them looking forward to my
interview Tuesday with a competitor), there seems to very little conversation
around these topics. You've posted some facts, I've posted some facts, but there
seems to be little discussion around these topics, or general concern from my
colleagues around these items. Seems like everyone is drunk from the cool aid
or immune to the fact that as soon as a way can be found to shift your job to
China, it will. Absolutely seething to tender my resignation, hopefully Tuesday
afternoon. P.S. Forget the fact that no "Red" people will be eligible
for any bonus until July 2015, ya'll can split my copy of www.thelenovoway.com
. Think there won't be a copy of that on every desk on "day 1" with
a date to have it finished for group discussion or test to ensure train of thought
compliance? -NoMSG- Comment
08/11/14:This came
from guidotti and its being enforced by dunderdale, all internal transfers are
frozen as well as external hires. If you want to poach somebody you have to
go to a board. Managers keeping folks from transfers in fear of losing headcount
(IBM managers stopped caring about employees some 5 years ago, treat them as
replaceable cogs) but at. The same time keeping them in a very bad place to
be - can't transfer can't focus. There is a concerted effort to give more 3's
this year and communicate it during mid year review (have you noticed it in
your w3 news instructions in having your midyear review). IBM stooped to a new
low, only roadmap to hell matters now. IBM is creating a monster, show me one
IBMer who was treated poorly - and ibm treats everybody poorly now if you are
not a sycophant or an exec - and still entertains the possibility to buy/recommend
IBM and I'll show you either an brainless bloodless person or a masochistic
one. Beware. -Camms (whaaaat) manager- Comment
08/11/14:To -low
performance 2+: That is a first low from IBM,( I have been a PBC 2 and
1 since I joined the company. Then I was suddenly informed that due to my LOW
PERFORMANCE I need to either leave voluntarily with minimized separation package,
or choose to be put on performance improvement plan) but you have to realize
IBM hires imbeciles for management case in point Ginni. Getting an attorney
would be a waste of your time and money. The best thing you can do is think
of it as a blessing and get out. Trust me your manager is doing IBM's dirty
work and then your manager will be gone. Good Luck! -RA'D in 2013-
Comment
08/10/14:low performance
2+, what is "minimized separation package"? If you leave voluntarily,
you won't be eligible for unemployment benefits, right? -looking
to be RA-ed- Comment
08/10/14:At U.S. -
Africa Business Forum, Ghana's Fidelity Bank Chooses IBM to Drive Transformation
Agenda --http://www.marketwatch.com/story/at-us-africa-business-forum-ghanas-fidelity-bank-chooses-ibm-to-drive-transformation-agenda-2014-08-05I wonder if these folks at Ghana Fidelity Bank saw the Carlson
article? Or are aware of IBM's failures at the State of PA, the State of IN,
the State of TX, the NFL, ServiceMaster, Hilton Hotels, etc.?-3V3R 0NW@rd. . .- Comment
08/10/14:To "BrokeInEFK",
check your rumors. Those may be the folks working with GF. They all receive
a bonus to cover the inconvenience (and keep GF from poaching them?)
-UpInTheHills- Comment
08/10/14:
http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/story/money/companies/ibm/2014/08/09/ibm-water-deal-stalled/13841263/Water negotiations with IBM stall, raising
new doubts
Negotiations between IBM and the public agencies that provide water to its Town
of East Fishkill plant have stalled, raising new doubts about IBM's future in
southern Dutchess County, an exclusive Poughkeepsie Journal investigation has
found.
The troubles come more than a year after the Journal first reported that IBM
Corp. was willing to renew its 10-year commitment to buy up to 2 million gallons
of water daily drawn from the Hudson River in Poughkeepsie and delivered via
pipeline. The current commitment ends in 2017.
The issues have arisen primarily because IBM now wants to pay less if it exits
the deal early, according to internal documents obtained by the Journal via
Freedom of Information Law requests and interviews with officials involved in
the negotiations. -IBM Bailing- Comment
08/09/14:I have been
a PBC 2 and 1 since I joined the company. Then I was suddenly informed that
due to my LOW PERFORMANCE I need to either leave voluntarily with minimized
separation package, or choose to be put on performance improvement plan (i.e.,
the hell). I know sometimes the company gave people 3 to force them out with
less or no severance, but to force a solid performer, plus to leave based on
the past half-year performance? That's the new low! Could anyone please recommend
some good employment lawyers? -low performance 2+-
Alliance reply: If you choose to spend your money on an attorney to fight IBM,
that is your choice. But know this: You are an "At Will Employee".
That means that IBM can fire you for any reason or no reason. IBM makes their
own rules concerning the PBC, their salary pay outs; even the way they decide
to make changes to the 401(k) plans being paid at the end of the year, instead
of bi-weekly like they used to do. IBM can break or revise ALL those rules whenever
they choose. There is nothing illegal about it. Any attorney worth their education
should be able to confirm what Alliance@IBM is saying here. Until you have a
written contract (whether it is an individual contract or a collectively bargained
contract) signed by you (or your union representative) and the IBM company,
that guarantees specifics of your performance plan; you have no standing or
power to dispute the way that IBM does business with their employees--You. Keep
that in mind, when you decide to contact an attorney. It may save you a stack
of money that you can use to support yourself and your family until you find
another job. IBMers in the USA need to understand that Organizing to get a union
contract is their ONLY option to level the "At Will Employee"
playing field.Comment
08/09/14:I was RA'D
in 2013 and that was the happiest day of my life. I have to admit being in management
at IBM has to be the lowest form of human life out there. Our manager did everything
possible to fire us or make us quit before the RA'D happened. Not sure if she
thought she would save money on severance or she was just being a true blue
blooded idiot IBM manager, but we are gone and so is she. I can only say get
out if you can and not to go through all the stress, because IBM does not care
about their people that's a fact. -RA'D in 2013- Comment
08/09/14:This is a
link to IBM management principles from past CEOs. How far IBM has come down
from that today.http://www.ibm.com/ibm/history/documents/pdf/management.pdf
-GTA-Comment
08/09/14: IBM below may have won the suit in
a court of law but will lose in the court of public opinion long term. I think
many CIOs will likely think twice before inking a contract with IBM. TJ Watson
Jr. always aimed for a WIN-WIN with the customer. IBM wins $14.2 million suit
against Carlson over contract cancellation. http://www.startribune.com/business/270404801.html
-tj- Comment
08/08/14:A bunch of
people are getting 2-year retention bonuses in Microelectronics. Not me, despite
getting a 1 last year and leading a major project. All I got was a lousy Blue
Points reward from my manager. I guess the writing's on the wall that those
of us who didn't get a retention bonus won't be staying around whatever happens
with GloFlo. Instead of union contracts we now have people indebted to IBM.
Good luck to everyone. -BrokeInEFK- Comment
08/07/14:The FEB'14
RA sent shock waves to a lot of employees in the STG India site, about 20% of
STG India who managed to find a job outside have left. Some who could not find
suitable jobs outside managed to jump to other departments where IBM is currently
investing (Cloud, Big Data, Analytics). The rest are frustrated at their inability
to find a job outside of IBM, and confused with the lack of direction for STG,
and angry because the latest leadership changes in STG India only made things
worse. The employee morale here is lower than a snake's belly. With all this
mess, I am not sure how IBM can produce any quality products going forward,
looks like we are entering a viscous circle. There are fears that there might
be more RAs in the making, given that Glo-Flo ditched us. I find this site a
great place for IBMers across GEOs to know what is happening. Please share some
updates from your Geo/Site. -STG-INDIA- Comment
08/07/14:IBM CEO interpretation
of Einstein's theory. E=MC2"Executive = Money Cash Screw"
-Anonymous- Comment
08/07/14:Just because
you can teach Elephants to dance doesn't mean they can run a company!! You should
have taken the money you spent on elephant dance lessons, and spent it on developing
new technology. -MR EF- Comment
08/06/14:
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-08-06/ibm-apple-app-deal-for-businesses-hits-snag-as-china-spurns-ipad.html

IBM-Apple App Deal for Businesses Hits Snag as China Spurns
IPad

IBM's goal to dominate the business application market through
a partnership with former rival Apple Inc. (AAPL) has hit a snag where IBM
has faced challenges before: China. China's government excluded Apple products
such as iPads and iPad Minis from the list of products that can be bought
with public money because of security concerns, according to government officials
familiar with the matter. That means the business-software apps IBM is building
for those tablets may face hurdles reaching the burgeoning Chinese corporate
market.-Anon-

Comment
08/06/14:For those
IBMers going to Lenovo at the RTP site, this is something of what to expect
within the 1st year. A 20% job cut. A history refresh. That's what happened
to the 350 of 1,800 ex-IBMers. So get your resumes ready and start thinking
ahead.http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/2006/03/19/1470950.htm
-ExIBMerHistoryRefresh- Comment
08/06/14:http://www.businessinsider.com/ibm-chip-making-business-2014-8Ginni couldn't entice GF with $1,000,000,000 to take the chip
fab well guess how she'll raise a billion without enticing them? Duh. Another
RA coming soon. Another financially engineered cost cut to try to get to $20
EPS. Full steam ahead, don't oil the main bearings, damn the torpedoes, and
and the icebergs, the jagged rocks in the shoals IBM Titanic!
-IBM$uck$- Comment
08/06/14:Andrew Stevens
shown the same door as Jim Bramante it appears.http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-10-17/ibm-said-to-put-sales-head-di-leo-in-charge-of-growth-markets.htmlPWC virus downloaded by Ginni continues to wreak havoc within
the company. Good call GR.-out of the blue-
Comment
08/05/14:Ginni is
trying to sell the chip unit so she Sam and Louie can get their big fat bonuses
at the end of the year. There will definitely be more RAs now until the end
of the year. US IBMers need a union to protect their families from these three
corrupt and greedy CEOS . Join the union -Join the Union- Comment
08/05/14:GlobalFoundries
is hiring and has an ad in the Burlington Freepress today for a job fair on
Tuesday Aug 5 from 6-8pm at the Sheraton in Burlington -JustSaying-
Comment
08/05/14:Looks like
Ginni is running a reverse garage sale. She's paying folks to take her junk?
Help the bottom line by taking take a hidden 1-2 billion dollar write off. Imagine
if that money was invested in EFK's physical plant instead. -anon-
Comment
08/05/14:IBM GF Explore
New Partnershttp://www.eetimes.com/author.asp?section_id=36&doc_id=1323369
-justsayin- Comment
08/05/14:For those
tracking numbers, IBM has recently stated that if the System X divestiture gets
approved (which is still uncertain) it will be losing 7,500 jobs. This appeared
as a full page ad this month in Wired, and is available on ibm.com too:
"Can a move spark a transformation? See it happen with System x." Noteworthy is that it was signed "Sincerely, The entire
System x Team". But do you really think each and every one of the 7,500
is sincerely excited about leaving IBM? Well, most probably are elated to get
out of IBM, but do you think they did an employee survey to determine this stated
consensus? What's most interesting is that no single person, like an Adalio
Sanchez-level executive individually signed it. Maybe they don't want to be
too accountable for this massive and historic loss for IBM, which is short changing
its long-term future? Or, maybe they just don't have the authority, as it seems
everything is spiraling further out of control? -eXer- Comment
08/04/14:Einstein,
Bohr, Newton, and Galileo would ALL get 3's -- for being distracted. "What
have they done for us lately?" -Anon2- Comment
08/04/14:Ginni's desperation
knows no bounds:http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-08-04/ibm-said-to-have-offered-gf-cash-to-take-over-chip-unit.htmlIBM Said to Have Offered GF Cash to Take Over Chip Unit.IBM was willing to pay Globalfoundries Inc. to take on IBM's money-losing
chip-manufacturing operations, according to a person familiar with the process.
IBM was offering about $1 billion to persuade Globalfoundries to take the unit,
said the person, who asked not to be identified because the negotiations were
private. Globalfoundries wanted to be paid about $2 billion, enough to offset
the division's losses, the person said. IBM's willingness to pay underscores
the urgency for Chief Executive Officer Ginni Rometty to get less profitable
businesses off the books. Even so, letting the deal unravel shows Rometty wasn't
willing to exit at any cost. -Anon-Comment
08/04/14:GBS Got the
boot March 2014 full payout, early retirement, now hearing from people who are
getting RA's with reduced payout after 2-3 weeks bench time. 2 in my small circle
so who knows how many. Even heard a person being replaced by H1B and going to
bench. These are not 3 performers getting 13 weeks pay with just 3 weeks notice.
What is IBM doing? -Gonein2014- Comment
08/04/14:Well - IBM
may try to sell its chip mfg business but it will still maintain integrity in
the research initiatives - or will it?http://www.semiwiki.com/forum/f2/asml-ibm-grossly-misleading-about-euv-progress-4506.html
-RAtired BTV'r- Comment
08/04/14:It is very
sad to see how IBM STG managers follow the senior managers direction to kick
out the old workers. The young /inexperience workers get the high visible projects
even they are clueless. There is no moral code. -dark blue- Comment
08/03/14:Re the PBC
process, if IBM employed Albert Einstein, Neils Bohr, Sir Isaac Newton and Galileo
one of them would get a 3! -Glad To Be Gone- Comment
08/03/14:To previous
post by eXer. The issue is larger than it appears on the surface. I'm currently
working on a government contract, and with the chance our new IBM HMC's (all
System X) are going to be made by Lenovo, all of our POWER8 orders are on HOLD.
There's no way they're going to let a Chinese company build HMC's being used
by the government. We're now placing orders for POWER7 systems instead (since
the POWER8's will utilize a new HMC). This may mean the demise of AIX in our
organization in the future. -Anonymous- Comment
08/03/14:
http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/story/money/companies/ibm/2014/08/02/globalfoundries-recruits-ibm-fishkill/13524893/ The job fair is from 6 to 8 PM Tuesday 8/5 at the Hyatt House,
100 Westage Business Center Dr, Fishkill, NY -Interviewing- Comment
08/02/14:"IBM Australia/NZ
MD Andrew Stevens retires. Profits plummet. It is a bad time in Australia at
the moment. I am just glad to be out of IBM. Guess he'll end up with a "golden
handshake"Golden Handshake?? Perhaps he doesn't deserve a "Golden ANYTHING"
based on his performance ... Perhaps another PW acquisition horror story for
IBM (my opinion):
During Stevens' tenure, IBM Australia has watched its profits plummet.
The company reported total revenue for the 2013 financial year tumbled by a
third, and net profit for the year went down to AU$233 million from the AU$355
million profit recorded during the previous financial year.
The company also made recent cuts to its local workforce, where 500 jobs were
expected to be slashed in March, in addition to the 1,500 jobs culled during
June 2013, as part of a global restructure plan. http://www.zdnet.com/ibm-anz-managing-director-andrew-stevens-retires-7000031701/
-anon- Comment
08/01/14:Now is the
time to find another job. Not q1 2015... -Anonymous- Comment
08/01/14:I recently
saw a cloud provider's (IBM competitor) business update that included a bullet
point on the fact that IBM are deeply discounting (providing credits) on attempted
Softlayer sales. Discounting on a already commodity priced offering? It doesn't
bode well for IBM replacing lost revenue with cloud growth. -Where's
the growth?- Comment
08/01/14:To -Anonymous-,
I have been a solid '2' for over 14 years at the same band level and all
of a sudden I am dropped to a '3' due to 'relative contribution'. And this year
I will most likely see the same, so two '3's in a row. Like you, performance
has not changed. I'm sure I'll be shown the door with a reduced or non-existent
severance. -anon- Comment
07/31/14:I was a PBC
2+ or equivalent for 25 years. Then, boom, a 2 and then boom, a 3, and now I'm
looking at another 3. Has my performance changed? No. Is IBM looking for a way
to manage me out without severance? Yes. I'm sure I'm not alone. This is just
another "initiative", intended to avoid more billion dollar"restructuring"
(aka layoff) costs. -Anonymous- Comment
07/31/14:
http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/story/money/economy/2014/07/31/dutchess-reviews-development-strategies/13409135/With IBM future foggy, Dutchess eyes $250k jobs fund Dutchess
County leaders are considering a boost in funding aimed at attracting jobs and
investment to the local economy. With the county's largest private employer,
IBM Corp., reported to be trying to sell its microchip manufacturing business,
doubt about the future of workers at the East Fishkill chip site have added
urgency to the jobs issue.-nonymous- Comment
07/31/14:@-anonymous-Who
posted the news on CEO walkout: Why do you "hope" for Ginny to walkout,
instead of, uhm .. well, walking out of IBM and getting yourself a better job?
Come on, you *should* be able to get a better job if you try. Are you so madly
in love with IBM that you will stick to them till the ends of the Earth?
-CleanPro- Comment
07/31/14:12,000 shares
sold in the last 4 weeks by IBM insiders, only 1,000 bought. Nice to know the
folks at the top have zero confidence. Join the club folks! With the GF deal
cratering, and cloud becoming a non-profit commodity business, looks like the
screws are tightening more every day. I have no shares, but if I did I'd sell
now too while they have peaked. -ReadTheTeaLeaves- Comment
07/31/14: IBM Australia/NZ MD Andrew Stevens
retires. Profits plummet. It is a bad time in Australia at the moment. I am
just glad to be out of IBM. Guess he'll end up with a "golden handshake"
which is more than what I got when I resigned on my own terms - I got sent a
bill yet I have evidence I was next on the list for RA! Company is a joke and
all I can say is good riddance. For those that remain, stand up or get out -
the grass is truly greener on the other side -glad2bgone- Comment
07/31/14:All should
stop referring to IBM's System x business as "low end". It's not.
That's just IBM executive spin to justify selling off the whole division, as
if they were doing something smart. In reality x servers are relatively high-end,
leading the technology and innovation curve in STG for the other HW lines to
benefit from. Wall Street and US Military tanks and fighter jets use System
x servers because they are high end. X could be called "high volume";
however, with the growing uncertainty of the potential sale to Lenovo (US Gov
might not allow Chinese x firmware controlling our military), it's freezing
sales. If the sale doesn't go through, IBM will end up with a "low volume"
and "high end" (but starting to trend down from neglect) business
pulling along less of the more profitable SW and services. And, all those dedicated
IBMers who put their hearts into building the best x servers in the world -
many are doomed whichever way x goes. Join forces now - your job might be next!
-eXer- Comment
07/30/14:"..None of
us even knew she was here. You would think maybe the site workforce would be
made aware of a visit by the CEO.." Not the first time Rometty went incognito
to an IBM site. I spotted her at EFK just after she was made CEO near the main
EFK cafeteria. Her visit was probably to size up EFK microelectronics operations,
and who knows maybe that was preliminary advance scouting for the current GF
sell that is now off from all reliable sources. These IBM executives want to
keep a low profile. Why I don't know..other than irrational fear(?)-FishFooled-
Comment
07/30/14:-Join the Union-:
Actually I think the discrimination starts earlier than 55 year old. Once you
are 55 years old with 15 years of IBM service you get the FHA. If you are only
54 years 364 days old when IBM RAs you LOSE ALL YOUR FHA! Unless your an IBM
executive once you turn the big Five-Oh your targeted. We are on a Roadmap to
Hell! No doubt about it. -IBMUnionYES- Comment
07/29/14:6 stocks
go higher after CEO's walk out the door....we can only hope IBM will be #7 on
the list.http://americasmarkets.usatoday.com/2014/07/29/6-stocks-soar-after-ceos-walk-out-the-door/
-anonymous-
Alliance reply: Don't get your hopes too high for CEO Rometty to walk out. It
would be better if you could hope that you and your co-workers could organize
and fight for a union contract. Numbers make a difference for unions, just like
numbers make a difference to the CEO's that live by the stock market. Let the
CEO's, whomever they might be, play their game and lose. You should play YOUR
game to win. And organized workers' numbers could be much bigger than theirs.Comment
07/29/14:Several contractors
in the Netherlands and possibly also IBMers were let go today. -IBMer-
Comment
07/29/14:I spent a
little over 3 yrs at IBM. While there I got a PBC of a 2 and (2) 3.....The problem
I had was I got 6 Outstanding PAs! So how can someone who gets outstanding PAs
during a year end up with a 3? Well let's see, first I was over 50 when i was
converted to full-time IBMer. I know they love to let us old-timers go. Second,
I know that my salary was higher than other Band 9s in my group who were much
younger than I. Good riddance IBM. You should go the way of DEC, SUN, etc...
-TexasEx- Comment
07/26/14:IBM management
is not only sexist about women in the workplace , but they also have a history
of discrimination against women and workers over 55. They are the worst company
to work for when it comes to discrimination due to age and sex. IBM US employees
need a union to protect this type of discrimination in the workplace. IBM H/R
is useless when it comes to discrimination. Join the union. -Join
the Union- Comment
07/26/14:What's the
latest in the France TSS strike? I haven't been able to find anything in English
language since early July. -still_suffering- Comment
07/26/14:My area is
again actively replacing US-based workers with people based in other countries.
One contractor was let go this past week, another person will be let go next
week. Both IBM employees and contractors are under consideration. Management
is being pressured to get US workers off the books, regardless of the impact
to the customers they are supporting. -still_suffering- Comment
07/25/14:IBM Is a 'Kindred
Spirit':Whoa, Tim Cook, Whoa!
What I'm saying here is this: If this deal is so amazingly "landmark,"
the details provided do not match the hype. If the collaboration is real, it
would be fairly easy for Tim Cook just to say so. He could at least give us
a hint that the collaboration with IBM will extend much deeper than collaborating
on how to handle invoicing. Personally, I'm taking all this with a grain of
salt. -anon- Comment
07/25/14:...Ginnie
asked someone in the command center...
Q:"What do you do every day that is stupid?"
A. Work for IBM without a union contract!" I'd say!-IBMUnionYES-
Comment
07/25/14:Regarding
Ginni in RTP, what was she even there for? None of us even knew she was here.
You would think maybe the site workforce would be made aware of a visit by the
CEO but apparently the company's most valuable asset isn't worth keeping informed.
-Anonymous- Comment
07/25/14:
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-07-25/ibm-said-to-reject-globalfoundries-offer-for-chip-unit.htmlIBM Said to Reject Globalfoundries Offer for Chip Unit
IBM's talks to sell its money-losing chip-manufacturing operations to Globalfoundries
Inc. have ended after the two companies failed to agree on terms, according
to people familiar with the process."The breakdown of the talks is a setback for IBM Chief Executive Officer
Ginni Rometty as she attempts to meet 2015 earnings goals by shedding less profitable
units and reversing nine straight quarters of revenue declines." -Bad Number's Ahead- Comment
07/25/14:At the dog
& pony show in the triangle the other day Ginnie asked someone in the command
center "What do you do every day that is stupid?" Bless her
heart, had she asked me I would have stood up and said "Ma'am, I worry
about getting pulled into the next RA".
Are they really that out of touch? -Magnolia- Comment
07/25/14:You are gonna
love this:http://businesstoday.intoday.in/story/business-today-survey-top-5-companies-to-work-for-india-2013/1/208132.htmlIBM is among the "Top 5" companies to work for in India.
-Anonymous Coward- Comment
07/25/14:http://www.cringely.com/2014/07/25/fed-suckered-ibm-failing-cloud-strategy/The Fed suckered IBM into a failing cloud strategy?
Economist David Stockman, who is probably best known for being President Reagan?s
budget director back in the era of voodoo economics, has been particularly outspoken
about IBM as a poster child for bad policy on the part of the U.S. Federal Reserve.
How this would be isn?t immediately obvious but I think is worth exploring because
IBM is far from the only company so afflicted. There?s an important effect here
to be understood about corporate motivations and their consequences.-anonymous- Comment
07/25/14:All businesses
do not enter into buy/sell negotiations until each party signs agreements not
to talk to much less hire the other parties employees. These agreements are
usually in force during and last for sometime after negotiations end. The process
of hiring employees of this caliber is not done over night and has probably
been ongoing for some time. IBM is either foolish (doubtful) or a party to this
ongoing charade. -60Hurtz- Comment
07/24/14:-JustSaying- I'm
sure these three have employment contracts with GF and probably got a nice signing
bonus! A raise perhaps too?! -IBM2GF- Comment
07/24/14:Here's a
good one, they will probably just get a slap on the wrist but really need to
go through at least 6 months of diversity training, lol..http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2014/07/23/live-tweets-sexist-remarks-ibm_n_5613278.html
-sinking ship-Comment
07/24/14:http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2703035/Coder-livetweets-sexist-remarks-allegedly-IBM-executives.htmlFemale coder live-tweets overheard sexist remarks 'made by IBM
execs' at lunch who refuse to hire young women because they 'get pregnant again
and again and again'-Ouch- Comment
07/24/14:GlobalFoundries
hires 3 more IBM execshttp://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/story/money/companies/ibm/2014/07/23/globalfoundries-hires-ibm-talent/13063953/
-JustSaying- Comment
07/24/14:@-Jason-, The
answer to who left IBM and was hired by GF is here:http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/story/money/companies/ibm/2014/07/23/globalfoundries-hires-ibm-talent/13063953/
-anon- Comment
07/23/14:I just saw
this.... IBM: "Environment - If you're a woman looking for a company that
appreciates you" here:http://www.payscale.com/career-news/2014/07/want-to-work-for-a-great-company-here-are-7-things-to-look-for?utm_source=Email+Newsletter&utm_campaign=fab86774f8-0714_Newsletter04_Subject_Test&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_cc02db4bff-fab86774f8-75887429Who the #@%$ came to that conclusion??!?-Anonymous-Coward-
Comment
07/23/14:http://www.stockpickr.com/hedge-funds-hate-these-5-stocks-should-you.htmlThere's no single stock that funds hated more last quarter than
$200 billion tech behemoth International Business Machines (IBM). All told,
early-filing investment funds sold off 2.56 million shares of IBM in the last
three months, shedding more than 15% of their holdings in the firm. Now the
question is whether it makes sense to join them in the selloff.-anon-
Alliance reply: The real question is not about IBM's stockholders' participation
in a selloff--the question is whether IBMers will finally stand up together
and take some action and push back against the Roadmap
to Hell?
If you aren't a member or aren't aware, this comments section is paid for by
Alliance members and its purpose is getting information and reports about Job
Cuts. We decided to post your comment to remind everyone that comes here that
in order to take action and push back, worrying about what IBM does with their
"holdings" is not on the list of "things to do". Joining
Alliance@IBM and organizing is at the top of the list. FYI.Comment
07/22/14:-bongo- Remember
whenever you see an IBM executives lips moving or quivering, they are LYING!
Standard IBM executive CYA. That's why they are more slippery than teflon or
butter or oil on a hot skillet.-anonymous-
Comment
07/22/14:"...but rather
a standard 1 month severance without regards for years of service..."I thought you only get 1 week of employment service up to a max of 13 weeks
with consecutive PBC 3s with an RA?
So IBM changed this? Another devious an unethical way of cutting costs since
the IBM executives have NO CLUE HOW TO MAKE REVENUE. Ginni should be a PBC 3
for two years running!-IBM$uck$- Comment
07/22/14:http://seekingalpha.com/article/2329355-why-the-ibm-apple-agreement-could-failWhy The IBM-Apple Agreement Could Fail
The supposedly "landmark" deal faces some serious obstacles. An iOS
centered mobility management solution will not do well in a BYOD dominated market.
IBM is a newcomer when it comes to mobility management and lacks the clout that
Apple needs to thrive in this market. IOS security woes are a major obstacle
for highly regulated industries. This problem isn't likely to go away through
IBM's partnership.-anon- Comment
07/22/14:6 weeks since
I left ibm, sleep is easy now. I pray for my remaining friends.
-grayson_ex-ibmer- Comment
07/21/14:-jason- my
sources told me that Tom Callfield recruited them. The names I heard was George
Jorodomino , Deb Leach and some other young up and comer. Also heard someone
name Hank Demarico who was an exec who got retired is also hired by GF..Could
be a message here. -lastdino1- Comment
07/21/14:Re: -SimpleMath-
The next logical follow-on question: even IF they carve off these large chunks
of the enterprise to reap one-time billion dollar payouts and (temporarily)
make their numbers, does that really have much meaning in the long term?"
LOL - "long term" is not in IBM's vocabulary. What can they do to
make the numbers look good for NOW, to hell with 1 year from now.
-Glad-I-Left- Comment
07/21/14:To jsb2b,
the IBM earnings report is for just one quarter yr (second quarter). So you
have to multiply by 4 or look at the full year forecast for the full year earnings.
The 20.00 per share in 2015 is a full year EPS. -wackomole- Comment
07/21/14:Question
to bongo... not sure if it's allowed on this website, but if it is, tell us
the names of these execs who left for Global if you can. -Jason-
Comment
07/21/14:-Curious-, two
consecutive "3" appraisals generally results in layoff without the
more generous RA-type severance packages but rather a standard 1 month severance
without regards for years of service. IBM HR is enforcing more "3"
appraisals to increase attrition and force employees out without standard severance.
-Anonymous- Comment
07/21/14:(I am trying to
link this post to actual job-cut forecasts... I think we generally err on the
side of excessive negativity here, without constructive end-product.) Seems clear, at this point, that to make $20 EPS, IBM must divest its
x86 server business and (much of) its chip-fab business. (Ideally both.)
If one sells without the other (e.g., x86-to-Lenovo goes through, chip-fab-to-GF-or-Tower
fails), the number is still theoretically reachable, but will be difficult.
If neither happens (e.g., both x86 and EFK deals delayed post-2014), expect
November-to-March bloodshed.
The next logical follow-on question: even IF they carve off these large chunks
of the enterprise to reap one-time billion dollar payouts and (temporarily)
make their numbers, does that really have much meaning in the long term? What
will keep this target-or-die crisis from recurring (whether officially forecast
or not) in 2016, 2017, 2018?-SimpleMath-
Comment
07/21/14:A little
audience participation exercise for the"theoretically almost RED team",
since all the internal reporting MAY be just a tad one sided... Go out to wraltechwire.com.
Search Lenovo Layoffs and sort by oldest... SPOILER ALERT: May 2nd 2005 was
the first day for the 2000 lucky RED transfers at the time. First major layoff?
Less than a year later March 17 2006. Next major layoff? April 19, 2007. Transferred
people gone in total? 600, or 30% in 2 years time. Pretty close to one a day
if you look at it that way, transformation at it's best! In case you haven't
noticed the shift of work east has already begun. P.S. Posted from my shiny
new envy laptop, guess what it's NOT. -NoMSG- Comment
07/20/14:"IBM outstanding
stock shares are scarcer..."
Yeah, it's called stock price manipulation. Does anyone think IBM can ever become
a $200 a share company anytime soon??? Can anyone figure out since Gerstner
accelerated IBM stock buybacks in 1993 what the TRUE IBM stock price is without
all these incestuous Billion dollar buybackSSS financed by IBM stockholder $$$?LIFE@IBM
IS NOT GOOD and not getting better anytime soon. Roadkill to Hell and bust I'm
afraid. LISTEN to the Alliance folks! They know what they are telling you all
is true!!! Then THINK 2X for yourself and JOIN the Alliance!-trexibmer-
Comment
07/20/14:3+ executives
left to GF from Fishkill last week. Not exactly a morale boost. One of those
same execs gave people a "there's nothing to worry about"
meeting only 2 months ago. #rolemodels -bongo- Comment
07/20/14:In response
to the seekingalpha article, I present to you facts:http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-07-17/scariest-chart-ibms-history
-Another Ex IBMer- Comment
07/20/14:anon....what
is the "3-check your out without severance now. That's the latest plan"...
I havent heard that one? -curious- Comment
07/19/14:http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9249837/U.S._Senator_blasts_Microsoft_s_H_1B_push_as_it_lays_off_18_000_workers U.S. Senator blasts Microsoft's H-1B push as it lays off 18,000
workers Republican lawmaker takes issue with U.S. corporate belief that there's
a STEM shortage
On the floor of U.S. Senate Thursday, Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) delivered
a scalding and sarcastic attack on the use of highly skilled foreign workers
by U.S. corporations that was heavily aimed at Microsoft, a chief supporter
of the practice.
Sessions' speech began as a rebuttal to a recent New York Times op-ed column
by Microsoft founder Bill Gates, investor Warren Buffett and Sheldon Adelson,
a casino owner that has chastised Congress for failing to take action on immigration
reform. But the senator's attack on "three of our greatest masters of the
universe," and "super billionaires," was clearly primed by Microsoft's
announcement, also on Thursday, that it was laying off 18,000 employees.
-anonymous- Comment
07/19/14:The Fed's
Financial Repression At Work: How Big Blue Was Turned Into A Wall Street Slush
Fundhttp://seekingalpha.com/article/2324305-the-feds-financial-repression-at-work-how-big-blue-was-turned-into-a-wall-street-slush-fund
IBM is a poster child for the ill-effects of the Fed's financial repression.
In effect, the Fed's zero interest rate policies are telling big companies to
issue truckloads of debt and use the proceeds to buyback shares hand-over-fist.
That way fast money speculators on Wall Street are appeased by the resulting
share price lift, and top executives collect bigger winnings on their stock
options. -Anon- Comment
07/19/14:Ginni is
hellbent on $20 EPS by 2015. Last report was $4.21 EPS. How is she going to
jump $16 to get to $20 in less than 6 months? Fire every employee world-wide???
-jsb2b- Comment
07/19/14:Corporate
greed and stupid management is taking over -this says it all:http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-07-17/scariest-chart-ibms-history
-John Doe- Comment
07/18/14:The author
is very wrong, and Cringely comments on it.http://seekingalpha.com/article/2322075-ibm-transformation-continues-expect-the-shares-to-trade-to-250-by-year-end
-Anonymous- Comment
07/18/14:I always
thought Think40 was a failure in my opinion. It was very frustrating in that
it was yet more lip service from IBM management with no funding attached to
it. It was more fend for yourself initiative. IBM couldn't be bothered to even
train its employees for its own software. I am taking the liberty of re-branding
Think40 to mean Think! before you commit to doing more than 40 hours for IBM!
Do not cheat your family of their due time to give to IBM. It will never pay-off.
You will be tossed out in your old age (40 or above). That's another Think40
- the age at which you will feel age discrimination. Much like adult film actresses
that look back and lament in their old age, you will too. These are all my opinions.
-anon- Comment
07/17/14:Have you
read what is happening in IBM France? See what dirty pool IBM management plays?
Putting striking workers behind the 8 ball? IBM: a RESPECT FOR THE INDIVIDUAL
corporation? Not in my my dreams; in my nightmares though... Gosh, the Watsons
must not be resting in peace now they knew how this IBM they created and groomed
is now. You in the USA need a contract! Otherwise IBM will continue to run roughshod
over you!-Support_IBM_France- Comment
07/17/14:IBM Shares
Grow Scarcer as Buybacks Bring Count Below 1 Billionhttp://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-07-17/ibm-shares-grow-scarcer-as-buybacks-bring-count-below-1-billion.html
IBM shares are getting scarcer as the company acquires its outstanding
stock, making each share of the company more valuable. -nonymous-
Comment
07/17/14:IBM Sales
Sink Again, for the Ninth Straight Quarterhttp://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-07-17/ibm-earnings-sales-sink-again-for-the-ninth-straight-quarterIBM posted yet another quarter of falling revenue, its ninth in a row, as
the 103-year-old technology company continues to struggle to adapt to the cloud
era of computing. Shares fell 1.5 percent in after-market trading.
-Anon-Comment
07/17/14:IBM Is The
'Poster Child' For What's Wrong With Corporate Behavior Todayhttp://www.businessinsider.com/stan-druckenmiller-on-ibm-2014-7
-Bad Behaviour- Comment
07/17/14:When's the
next RA, or can IBM not afford it? Oh that's right, they will 3-check you out
without severance now. That's the latest plan. -Anonymous- Comment
07/17/14:http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/story/news/local/2014/07/16/ibm-job-numbers-fall/12756559/IBM local job numbers fall to new low
IBM's total Dutchess County headcount fell to its lowest in decades in early
2014. A report made by the company, and obtained by the Poughkeepsie Journal,
revealed a count of 6,897 at the end of February, a drop of 10 percent from
one year earlier. That was 771 jobs gone off the IBM payroll.-Anon-
Comment
07/16/14: -Sam- IBM keeps everyone,
except their select few inner circle, former executives, and current executives,
and middle management (band D), in the know. Everyone else just has to speculate,
hope, and try to keep the faith that all will turn out OK or stay the status
quo (which isn't that good, eh?). IBM DOES NOT COMMUNICATE even close to effectively
anymore. It is all FUD and/or obfuscation when any news comes out, sanitized,
from IBM. "...IBM does not speculate..." is Mr. Doug "Talking
Head" Shelton's -I'veBeenMisinformed-Comment
07/16/14:You better
believe the Alliance when they say you are all on the Roadmap to Hell! This
is no exaggeration. IBM's Roadmap 2015 is gonna be a failure and IBM knows it
and has not enough runway left this year to make that $20 EPS no matter they
do. They are trying to pull out all the stops with the recent Apple alliance
but it is a case of a little to late. Let's see what the 2nd QTR numbers are
gonna be. -IBMUnionYES- Comment
07/16/14:So, a group
of greedy corporations, including IBM and Abu Dhabi, shake down NY for $135
MILLION and it's presented as a good thing? -Ralph Montefusco- Comment
07/16/14:Do IBM employees
have to serve notice and pay the expenses for training, etc if they don't?
-Anonymous- Comment
07/16/14:Sam from
mfg here.... I know it's only speculation (just like on CNN) but does ANYONE
have any guesses on what the heck is happening in STG BTV or EFK?? By the way,
thank you Alliance! -Sam- Comment
07/15/14:And all over
IBM America the BOHICA boys choir is warming up for yet another encore performance
and still so few refuse to bend over. Have the Lenovo bound figured out which
dialect of Chinese to buy from Rosetta Stone so they can pretend to communicate
with new owners? Those headed to Malta rejoice as English is the primary language.
For those of you reading this who still claim to not know about any union effort
in IBM enjoy the bliss ignorance begets. -Exodus2007- Comment
07/15/14:Managers
meeting in EFK today, Cadigan announced GF deal is off... -anonymous-
Comment
07/15/14: I'm BTV manufacturing... doesn't look
too good for us here in Vermont.http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/story/money/companies/ibm/2014/07/15/ny-ge-ibm-deal/12672535/
-Sam- Comment
07/14/14:For everyone
enjoying the red kool aid after signing the dotted line, a friendly reminder/after
dinner chaser to go with the clearly spelled out at-will employment clause.http://www.crn.com/news/cloud/300071910/ibm-putting-freeze-on-server-unit-staff-says-its-lenovo-or-no-go.htmIf you haven't educated yourself on glassdoor on general sentiment
toward your"theoretical"new
employer, you should. If you are not actively making a contingency plan for
your career regardless of what you do, you should. Remember"Everybody
has a plan until they get punched in the face"...I
wonder if there are any plans to shift work en masse to China if the deal goes
through?... -NoMSG- Comment
07/14/14:GF is advertising
in IBM locations for personnel for Malta. My guess is that they have decided
that it's cheaper and easier just to cherry pick people than to buy the whole
of MD, especially as they've indicated they want people more than physical assets.
-Dave- Comment
07/13/14:More offshoring,
my friend of my just got laid off from UnitedHealth. Management and subordinates
of a customer call center trained their replacements in Malaysia. They gave
them two weeks to train them before being let go. My friend was told Malaysian
English sounds more American than other foreign countries English, which is
why they opened a huge call center there.
I don't understand how they help American customers in Malaysia. How can your
personal information be accessed by foreigners? How is that even lawful? I would
think at a minimum that would violate HIPPA requirements. -Anonymous-
Comment
07/13/14:Alliance
do we assume that the people who "outed" themselves on the facebook
page have already made it known to IBM who they are. If no I guess it's out
now. Good luck. -Anonymous- Comment
07/12/14:Does reading
about the potential global foundries sale count towards my think 40? #wastedhours
-Anonymous- Comment
07/12/14:Rumor is
IBM and GlobalFoundries talks have hit a snag. They are NOT talking to each
other anymore. IBM is pursuing PLANB. -anonymous- Comment
07/12/14:"Who wants
to contact Weird Al Yankovic to do the honors?"
If you want it done, then do it.. Typical, let someone else do it for you, just
like forming the union. I had handed out thousands and thousands of fliers,
even at Sommers, walked the line at stock holders meetings, worked the telephones
calling people, and worked for 14 years to help.. What has anyone else done?
-A non mouse- Comment
07/12/14:NY Senator
Schumer Calls Ginny about East Fishkill, Buy She Ain't Talkin: Rometty, however,
"was totally mum'' during a Thursday phone conversation about the
future of the company's East Fishkill facility, Schumer said.New York's
senior senator said he called IBM's top executive to ask about the future of
the East Fishkill plant in Dutchess County, which is rumored to be for sale."She
said she didn't have anything to say on that,'' Schumer said."Nothing
imminent. I made a strong pitch that I hope you'll keep East Fishkill, keep
all the jobs there. Even if you'll have to modify what the factory does.'' "She
did say that these new research jobs, a large proportion, a good proportion
would go to New York,'' he said. "I asked her where in New York.
She said she couldn't say." -Ginny Aint Talkin- Comment
07/11/14:Folks
- Re: "Diane Gherson's son was awarded a Watson's scholarship?"Know that this scholarship reflects her son's abilities not his parent's
politics/leanings/whatevers and it is a need based scholarship with a floor
of 2000 USD - i.e. that is all he will get. As you are surely aware this will
not cover much with the yearly estimated tuition for public schools closing
in on 16,800/year and private schools ~2X that figure - she will be paying for
the rest.-fair but off-centered-
Alliance Reply: This topic is closed. No more posts on Ghersons son or Watson
Scholarships Comment
07/11/14:Watson Scholarship
is based on student merit - not financial need. Her child should be congratulated
for this high honor. Also -the Watson Scholarship is only a couple of thousand
dollars per year, not a full ride. The uninformed and hateful remarks on this
board detract from it's very important purpose. -Anonymous- Comment
07/11/14:Be sure to
visit the IBM global union alliance facebook page with pictures of worldwide
IBM employees against IBM's "Roadmaps" athttps://www.facebook.com/ibmglobalunionallianceAnd don't forget to click the "like" button.
-Alliance- Comment
07/11/14:Well said
IBM Patriot. You articulate the disease state well. Best analogy I can conjure
is a diagnosis of cancer. On one hand, death is lurking, on the other a cure
is possible. Everyone thinks time is the mitigating factor., but success is
a combination of time and disease management. IBM has time but no interest in
a cure and a leadership team completely isolated from the diagnosis. Terrible
to watch a great company now in hospice. -Ex-IBMer- Comment
07/10/14:Why does
the "Roadmap to Hell" make me think of AC/DC? I think it's time for
a parody music video, Folks. That should attract some attention. Who wants to
contact Weird Al Yankovic to do the honors? -Anonymous- Comment
07/10/14:Curious or
the least bit surprised with this Big Blew? Nah! Like Diane Gherson can't afford
Ivy league, Big 10, PAC, or elite universities tuition for her son... Why pay
a $.001 for collegiate education if IBM will pay it all for her and her son?
Greed. Greed. Greed. To the rich belong all the spoils. It costs them nothing.-IBM$ucks- Comment
07/10/14:http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/videos/news/local/2014/03/28/7006921/Largely caused by IBM in East Fishkill.
Cleaned up by taxpayers $$$. -FishFooled- Comment
07/10/14:Re: "Diane
Gherson's son was awarded the Watson's scholarship?" I think you mean
"..a Watson scholarship.." since dozens are given each year.
Back in days gone past there was more to be outraged about with nepotism. One
former exec of mine got both son and daughter hired even though they did not
pass muster in interviews. Not an isolated case. -Oldtimer- Comment
07/10/14:@IBM Scientist,
John E Kelly is SVP of Research. He has no connection with Microelectronics
Division. Yorktown chip lines are 80's, 90's vintage. These lines are for developing
samples, not production chips. Clean room - Fab workers are Fluor employees
no longer IBM'rs. -Yorktowner- Comment
07/10/14:What an act
of deception. Notice in the $3 Billion chip announcement the word FISHKILL isn't
mentioned once, just Albany and Yorktown. It is a ploy so that when they announce
they are abandoning FISHKILL analysts wont say they are abandoning chips. $3
Billion over 5 years is $600 million a year, less than they have ever spent
historically on chip research. How does that saying go:
"You can fool some of the people....." -NOTHING BUT DECEPTION-
Comment
07/10/14:They must
be feeding this to the universities, since the EF fab is being sold. looks like
vapor warehttp://www.reuters.com/article/2014/07/09/us-ibm-hardware-investment-idUSKBN0FE2HW20140709?feedType=RSS
-Anonymous-Comment
07/10/14:IBM patriot,
well said! -Michele- Comment
07/10/14:IBM hiring
microelectronics scientists. Is this the same John Kelly the has been sinking
the Microelectronics Division for years?
"The effort, Mr. Kelley said, will have two main goals. The first will
be to wring further improvements from current silicon chip technology, by shrinking
the tiny circuits from today's 22 nanometers down to 7 nanometers, a few atoms
wide. The second goal is to accelerate progress on novel and promising, if unproved,
approaches - designs that employ quantum physics, carbon nanotubes and chips
inspired by the brain, called neuromorphic chips. To step up its chip research,
Mr. Kelly said IBM would be hiring more scientists and investing in industry
partnerships and academic collaborations."http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/07/09/ibm-wants-to-invent-the-chips-of-the-future-not-make-them/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=0
-IBM Scientist-Comment
07/10/14:Mandatory
IBM Challenge. Testing from ThinkFridays. More harassment.
IBMers Challenge CAMSS Privacy Statement Information about you such as your
name, employee serial number, email address, location and business unit will
be used to register you for this program. This information, along with your
program completion status and as permitted by local law, the number of attempts
you make at completing each of the test's modules, will be recorded, and shared
with your first-line manager(s) (in-country and functional managers as applicable)
to assist with coaching and development discussions. This information will also
be available to the program administrator, and it will be anonymized before
it further shared. Any survey you elect to answer will remain anonymous. Completion
of program activities will be recorded in IBM CareerSmart/Talent@IBM and credited
to Think40. -Anonymous- Comment
07/09/14:You are a
Resource and as a US IBM employee, no longer considered an asset but a liability.
I highly recommend the following:
1. If you are an exempt employee, work the 40 hours per week you are paid for.
No more evenings or weekends of unpaid overtime.
2. Take ALL of your earned vacation this year. Do not carry over any vacation
into 2015.
3. If you are sick, stay home and recover. Do not think you are being a hero
coming into work sick.
4. Hire a professional to update your resume and start looking for another job
now.
If you think for one second what you do is of vital importance to IBM, you are
wrong. Executive management does not care, even if you do perform critical work.
Face reality and understand that anyone in IBM can be replaced, no matter how
much knowledge and expertise you have. I have seen it first hand at BTV.
-truthVT- Comment
07/09/14:For IBM leaders
to watch:http://www.ted.com/talks/simon_sinek_why_good_leaders_make_you_feel_safe
-E- Comment
07/09/14:Do you find
it curious (aka wrong) that Diane Gherson's son was awarded the Watson's scholarship?
Shame on her for even allowing him to apply. -Anonymous- Comment
07/08/14:Is there
an area in which one can post a listing seeking a prospect who may be interested
in buying a business in another industry? Thanks -Anonymous-
Alliance reply: No.Comment
07/08/14:Stand in
solidarity with the TSS France Team. Think of something you can do to show your
support. Even if it is taking five minutes more for lunch to report back to
work. "If we don't hang together, we will surely hang separately"
- Benjamin Franklin - -IBMUnionNow- Comment
07/07/14:Backlash
stirs in US against foreign worker visashttp://www.bigstory.ap.org/article/backlash-stirs-us-against-foreign-worker-visas "Last month, three tech advocacy groups launched a labor boycott
against Infosys, IBM and the global staffing and consulting company ManpowerGroup,
citing a 'pattern of excluding U.S. workers from job openings on U.S soil.'"Nice to see Big Bleu prominently mentioned in such a positive
light. . -@N0NYm0U$- Comment
07/07/14:An Open Letter
to IBM Management:If you are in fact reading this, know that this is coming
from a BTL selected, Ivy educated, flag-waiving IBM patriot and a manager in
a profitable IBM division. Please know that we employees understand the need
for IBM to remain competitive, and that, in order to do so, any company will
require headcount reduction. The backlash you see here, and hear of elsewhere
is not one related to monetary poverty, but one that is centralized in a different
kind of poverty. A poverty of employee dignity. It is difficult for us to hold
our heads high and state that we work for the best company in the world, we
know it is an untruth. When we employees buy our IBM stock at a 5% discount through
the Employee Stock Purchase Plan or at the market price in our 401ks, to hold
as an investment for our families, it is hard to watch IBM executives flip the
stock like daytraders without a meaningful cost basis. Our executive team has
sold over $43,000,000 in stock in 1H2014. Zero dollars were spent in 1H2014
acquiring the stock, unless you count option exercises. The next batch of "leaders"
at IBM see this, we answer puzzled inquiries from our employees about your actions.
I am not sure what to tell them, as I am unsure how securities analysts continue
to view this as anything but a vote of"no confidence" by management.
The worst part, and what will likely be identified post-mortem in the halls
of elite business schools for the next century, is the cause for the continued
recession of top-line growth. It is caused simply by the insulation of the executive
team by self-aggrandizing sycophants. They attempt to satiate our queries with
hopeful colloquialisms and half hearted explanations on contrived "town-hall"
calls.
In the end, both they and you treat the average IBMer like an illiterate laborer,
despite shouting to the world about our collective brilliance. You have created
a culture where any given IBMer might smile to your face and shake your hand
as they congratulate you for improving bottom line while they curse your ethics
and your tenure here at this once fine company. Sincerely, An IBM BTL Next Gen
"Leader" -IBM Patriot- Comment
07/07/14:OK France
nice job so lets see what the results will lead to. Please publish what you
have won for the employees. -lastdino1- Comment
07/07/14:http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/07/06/us-china-pollution-data-idUSKBN0FB0RD20140706Guess it's easier to try conquering a smog cloud rather than the
real Cloud. . . -@N0NYm0U$- Comment
07/07/14:As the job
market has improved some of key client architects for very prominent customers
are leaving IBM. Their customer knowledge and experience will be quite difficult
to replace. Especially as there is no loyalty to the people in the trenches.
In the Army when the sergeants stop re-enlisting, the war is lost.
-weary- Comment
07/06/14:File under
Ignorance is Bliss."IBM will partner with Beijing - increasing the monitoring and forecasting
capabilities of the Chinese capital to reduce its issues of severe smog. IBM
aims to help the city through its collection of real-time emissions data and
forecasting expertise, and to help it attain its 10-year Green Horizon initiative."IBM would like to forget the spectacular failure of it's "Deep Thunder"
weather forecasting initiative with New York's Consolidated Edisonhttp://www.forbes.com/sites/williampentland/2011/07/25/utility-dumps-ibms-deep-thunder-program/-Anonymous- Comment
07/06/14:There's not
much you can do about the 2015 roadmap it's to close to it's target date for
them to change coarse now. It's up to you tho what happens next. It'll be interesting
to see what happens in 2015 how many shareholders will sell off if IBM misses
their target or creates a new roadmap of the same thing. There's a good chance
their stock will nose dive in 2015. You should protect yourselves now or have
an exit strategy. -whatever-
Alliance reply: It is time to start planning on how we halt the next Roadmap.Comment
07/05/14:With "Congrats
to the TSS France Team" I meant of course congrats for being so brave and
stand up. That's what all IBM workers worldwide need to do. We don't have much
more to lose, we only can win. Writing here in the forum is important to share
information and to organize, but writing alone won't stop Agenda 2015. Again,
as written quite a few times already: Organize yourself, join the unions and
go on strike. TSS is one of the areas where it is really painful for IBM. I
am sure there are others as well. We have at least the chance to show them that
we are not willing to accept everything. To all IBM workers: Hold your heads
up, be proud, strong and courageous and don't give in like this. FIGHT FOR YOUR
RIGHTS, AGAINST JOB CUTS AND FOR YOUR WORK BEING APPRECIATED AGAIN.
-Time_to_act- Comment
07/05/14:If IBM leaves
the East Fishkill fab., can Dutchess County NY possibly put a lien out on IBM's
PILOT and demand reimbursement of property taxes due since that would seem like
a breach of faith when the agreement was signed and extended? -Fishkilled-
Comment
07/04/14:Congrats
to the France TSS team on strike and good luck. Hopefully this starts a movement
all over the world. We should stand up and organize in all countries. That's
the 'onliest' chance to stop this madness. -Time-for-a-change- Comment
07/04/14:Remember
do not spend more than the 40 hours you are paid at work. Do not do more than
your paid - not for IBM anyway. Go home. Spend time with your family. No matter
what you do, if you fit the bill to reduce cost (age, salary etc.), you will
be tossed out like yesterday's garbage. Your boss is no longer TJ Watson Sr.
or Jr. Do things with the deathbed test. For example, on your deathbed, are
you likely to say "I wish I had spend more time at work for IBM and less
time with my family" ? No. So don't do it. You will regret it later. -test-
Comment
07/04/14:Really, there
was any question? Lenovo, IBM deal approved by China? 4:42 AM
Lenovo's (LNVGF) $2.3B deal for IBM?s (IBM) low-end server business has been
approved by the the Chinese Ministry of Commerce's anti-monopoly bureau. The
acquisition is still awaiting approval in the U.S., as the Committee on Foreign
Investment in the United States investigates possible American national-security
risks under the proposed deal, including concerns of the Pentagon's use of IBM
servers. -anon- Comment
07/04/14:Ginny (pun
intended between Ms. Rometty and one who consumes too much gin) Please watch
the Twilight Zone Season 5 Episode 33 - "The Brain Center at Whipples",
then try to sleep at night..... man has value, man has worth...-BTV-No-Mo-
Comment
07/03/14:Endicott
went through what the city of Poughkeepsie and other cities near Poughkeepsie
are gong through now. There were restaurants that closed on Washington Ave,
a car dealership closed, Union Endicott School district lost tax revenue, and
the real estate market crashed. IBM does not care about their employees and
how many plants and employees are RA'ed. Join the union before all of IBM US
employees are RAed. -ANA-Comment
07/02/14:EFK goes:http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/story/news/2014/07/01/ibm-end-era/11941517/
then BTV..-The_end_of_an_era- Comment
07/02/14:
http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/story/news/2014/07/01/ibm-east-fishkill-nearby-business-owners-worried/11940695/Small business owners near IBM not optimistic.
WICCOPEE – It's beginning to look like a ghost town. Small business owners
near the IBM East Fishkill plant say things have been slow before, but not this
bad, as they — and the dwindling number of IBM workers who stop into their
restaurants for lunch or a snack — wait with bated breath for news about
the property on which their livelihoods rely. Evidence of the plant's diminished
use appears in covered-up stoplights near entrances, grass or weeds growing
up through cracks in parking lots visible from the road, nearby eateries that
have closed and other empty spaces in commercial buildings. "We all depend
on IBM," said Eddie Pun, owner of Oriental Kitchen, a restaurant on Route
52 near the IBM plant. -Anon- Comment
07/01/14:IBM financial
engineering/fraud is running out of low hanging fruit:http://seekingalpha.com/article/2296935-ibm-running-out-of-easy-ways-to-keep-the-shareholders-satisfied?source=cc
-smtheman- Comment
07/01/14:I've been
told that GBS has changed it's bench policy, shrinking time to being "offered"
a separation from 90 days to four weeks... -anonymous- Comment
07/01/14:Layoffs coming.
All jobs have been frozen. RAs are forthcoming. Numbers were not good for 2q.
Revenue down. More heads must roll. Watch out if your over 50 and make 90k.
IBM is struggling to bring new customers in faster than they are leaving.
-Aloha- Comment
07/01/14:Playing the
odds of getting laid off at IBM is like playing Russian Roulette.The difference is you have a 15 shooter cylinder with 15 chambers.
To determine the number of bullets at the next draw do the math below:
* Every 4 years of age you are over 40, add 1 bullet.
* Every $8K of salary you are earning over $60K add 1 bullet.
* If your division is targeted then add 2 bullets.
* If are in banding level over 9, take out 1 bullet for every levelyou are over
9.
* Add 1 bullet of every 2 PBC levels you are at below 1. So PBC 2 is 2 bullets
= +2 and 2 or 2 levels.
* If you have a union contract pull out 5 bullets - you don't have one so forget
this altogether.
The number of bullets you have chambered will determine your survival rate at
the next pull of the trigger. So this reflects how little PBC actually plays
into you survival chances at the next RA.
-AgeDiscrimination- Comment
07/01/14:To -Anon-
"Hence employees that were expected to be transferred, may not be now."
They will still be transferred, just to the unemployment line. IBM already
wrote all those people off originally identified in the Lenovo transfer. Do
not expect the company to "re-absorb" them back into the fold otherwise
RoadKill 2015 will be a failure. -Exodus2014- Comment
07/01/14:The "day
of reckoning" for EFK is fast approaching:IBM
EFK: WHY NOT do something positive:
Take a break for 15 minutes at 2PM. Hit the restrooms en-mass even if you don't
have to! Go to the snack machines in the break areas. Take a break! Go outside
for a breath of fresh air. Call a loved one on your cell phone, check you car's
tire pressure/oil level in the parking lot...etc. Then join the Alliance!-WhyNot?- Comment
07/01/14:http://www.crn.com/news/data-center/300073296/dell-exec-campaign-to-go-after-ibm-business-is-working.htmDell Exec: Campaign To Go After IBM Business Is Working
Add Dell to the list of companies courting IBM partners and customers, trying
to win their business ahead of IBM's sale of its x86 server division to Lenovo.
Last week, Dell reported it has experienced healthy growth in the number of
partners and customers that have made the switch. -anon- Please see our page for comments on IBM Retiree Issues:http://www.endicottalliance.org/ibmretireeissues.phpComment
07/01/14:See Alliance
main page for news on IBM France TSS strike. -Alliance- Comment
07/01/14:
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/ibms-china-troubles-could-be-getting-worse-2014-07-01
-Anonymous- Comment
07/01/14:Your question
about "scope" would be defined by Lenovo or IBM. If you had a union
contract the meaning would be defined. -samtheman- Comment
06/30/14:"How can
IBM say you are in scope for Lenovo transition in March 2014. Then on June 24,
7 days before you are to receive the Lenovo job offer, tell you , that you are
no longer in scope." Welcome to not having a labor employment contract and being an at-will
employee! Join the Alliance to make a difference!-IBMUnionYES-
Comment
06/30/14:In the latest
Barron's Most Respected companiy list, IBM falls from #10 last year to #52 this
year. I'm sure we are all in shock over this one. I think its time for a mid
year PBC review for the entire executive team. Perhaps they should be rated
3's and put on a performance plan. Time for you to go Ginni. http://barrons.wsj.net/public/resources/documents/BARRONS_WORLDS_MOST_RESPECTED_COMPANIES_2014.pdf
-anonymous- Comment
06/30/14:Scope vs
not being in scope. Due to issues related to the potential X86 sale. IBM may
not be selling off all that was originally expected. Hence employees that were
expected to be transferred, may not be now. -Anon- Comment
06/29/14:For those
who are about to be laid off, we salute you. If you are "over qualified
(age)" and are ready to work where age is not a bias, look into patent
examination (staffing up). There are many here from the 'company that shall
not be named' and it's all on you. Many commute back to their homes on weekends,
every other weekend, or in some cases back to California when they can. No need
to sell and move if that works for you, and after a time you can telework from
your home. It pays the bills!-Ich Bin Muede-
Comment
06/28/14:How can IBM
say you are in scope for Lenovo transition in March 2014. Then on June 24, 7
days before you are to receive the Lenovo job offer, tell you , that you are
no longer in scope. You are not the only one being pulled back. Cause they had
too many people tagged as in scope? Whats up with that? This smells Fishy.
-Anonymous- Comment
06/28/14:"why don't
you ask your manager to put you on the RA list then you can get a package and
split."Risky strategy and I'll tell you why:
1) If you are currently a PBC 2 you could easily be dropped to a PBC 3 by your
manager since you expressed your intentions. This could cost you half severance
payment IF you get RAed.
2) You could be fired for performance soon after expressing your intentions.
Then you get nothing and possibly no unemployment benefit eligibility.
Best thing to do is look for another job and only do your job for 40 hours at
IBM. Nothing, nothing extra. Just don't go the extra mile for them at all.
If you are already a PBC 3 then you will likely be RAed within the year anyhow
after your next PBC 3 so just take it easy and only do the minimum requirements
for your job until then. The productive thing to do is join the Alliance!-anonymous- Comment
06/28/14:A big announcement
next week, joint venture with gf for BTV. Will finish the year with IBM. Next
year all gf. Loss of vacation pay, tdsp, plant to close by 2016. This is straight
from a 3rd level manager. So sorry Vermont. -Joe- Comment
06/28/14:@whatever and
others. Any use of IBM internal network is subject to auditing or monitoring
it's in the BCG you sign every year. ST messages can be analyzed for context
via Kenexa offering for social media (IBM absorbed HR company)http://www-03.ibm.com/software/products/en/category/SW333 All external traffic goes through a transparent proxy, All internal
site access that requires IIP credentials can be summarized. There is no group
that spends their time looking 24 x 7, but in big data terms the information
is there. -Ex IBM CIO Org Drone- Comment
06/28/14:Don't believe
for a minute there is no Sametime admin. I know for a fact Ibm uses the same
key word search that they use while watching your email. It's a constantly evolving
algorithm. You can bet they have added "roadkill" "ginni"
and all the others that show up here in this forum. The software keeps count
of the keywords and flags the highest counts. Ibm even touted this about a year
ago when they offered software to companies to monitor what their employees
were saying about them in social media. (And don't use asterisks to cover up
words like roadkil*, they get a high ranking in the flag count.) -sametime_admin-
Comment
06/28/14:Big moving
event in Ottawa Cognos building. Workers who have longer years in the company
used to get better cubicles. But this time many of them are assigned worse cubicles
than less year workers (worker compare to worker, not worker compare to manager).
A way to discourage, embarrass and push senior workers to leave without RA cost.
-cognosriverside- Comment
06/27/14:LOL @-depressed-
why don't you ask your manager to put you on the RA list then you can get
a package and split. As for sametime no they don't monitor chats if they did
I would have been gone along time ago. They don't even have anyone supporting
the sametime servers. IBM wouldn't spend the $$ on monitoring it. The only time
they might is if someone reported you as being abusive or something on chat.
Even if someone wanted to look at the logs I don't think anyone in IBM would
even know who to ask. -whatever- Comment
06/27/14:Another Customer
Bails on IBMhttp://www.computerweekly.com/news/2240223479/Roadchef-exits-IBM-Global-Services-for-direct-supplier-relationshipsRoadchef exits IBM Global Services for direct supplier relationships
Motorway services company Roadchef ended an outsourcing contract with IBM Global
Services (IBM GS) when its IT was up for refresh and decided to move to SAP.
At the same time, Roadchef ended its relationship with IBM GS. It also carried
out other projects, including the implementation of a wide area network and
a desktop refresh. The company used different technology suppliers and brought
IT management back in-house to its seven IT staff. Sharkey said the company
wanted to work directly with different IT suppliers, rather than through an
IT service provider.
"From my experience, you get a better response if you work with people
directly," he said.-Anon- Comment
06/27/14:T2RTAKER - I
took the T2R last time and didn't know anyone who was told hey needed to work
more than the agreed upon 24 hours a week.That is not part of the program. Tell
your manager that you will be there 3 days a week for 8 hours a day so he/she
should plan the amount of work they intend to get from you accordingly. If you
don't get satisfaction you can go to HR or just work 24 hours a week. They aren't
going to fire you for adhering to the program and they can't lay you off.
-longtimebeemer- Comment
06/27/14:-Depressed-. IBM
has the right to track anything you do on your work computer or on the IBM network.
There is no such thing as privacy in that context so basically don't say, send
via text, sametime or email or post on a blog or anywhere else from inside the
IBM firewall, ANYTHING you do not want them to be able to attribute to you because
they can simply use it as a reason to fire you. Not that they need that any
way, being 'at will' but why give them help! Even outside the firewall, one
has to tread carefully because it's all ammunition for them if they chose to
use it and trust me, some managers will. -Glad To Be Gone- Comment
06/27/14:-depressed- asked
the same question I came here today thinking about: Does IBM Management spy
on sametime conversations? If so, I'm a gonner. Co-workers and I constantly
chat about the declining and sad state of affairs at IBM and our do-nothing
FLM and SLM. -LetsBeFrank-Comment
06/27/14:Hey Big Bob
- One thing YOU need to keep in mine is that wonderful statement included in
all the annual reports regarding Executive Compensation: The Board Of Directors
makes a conscious decision and proclamation to pay these folks ridiculous amounts
because they are all "1 Performers" and the Board is afraid
they will leave IBM and go elsewhere unless they continue these nonsensical
compensation packages. While I find this statement to be wildly amusing since
I no longer am with IBM, the fact of the matter is if you are going to pay these
people like they are the "Best and the Brightest" then they
should be expected to perform to that level. Kah-Peesh? -Happily
Departed In 2013- Comment
06/27/14:For those
like me who used to work so hard, going above and beyond and putting in so much
extra time but are now refusing to do so, or those that are taking T2R and trying
to keep your work hours to a limited number, here is the answer. Just make sure
to carefully document everything that you do during your work hours. If you
ever get accused of being 'distracted' or not productive by your manager, just
pull out your daily or weekly list of accomplishments. Just be more organized
than your manager (usually not hard!) That's what has worked for me.
-HelpYourself- Comment
06/27/14:At the IBM
East Fishkill Site we are seeing a lot of County officials and prospective Real
Estate buyers who have been touring the site along with upper management. Also,the
site property is being resurvey along with a host of surveyors.The latest is
that there will be an upcoming announcement on who will own the EF site. Building
334 was been cleaned and is being converted into a major conference center which
will support up to 4,000 people for the all hands on event! -Bring
in the Chairs!- Comment
06/27/14:@depressed - The
need to get something out the door to generate revenue no matter what the quality
is is paramount. If and only when a customer reports a problem it is fixed.
Time to stress test and debug products before being released causes delays in
release. Because of self imposed loss of qualified technical staff by RA's or
folks leaving there have been crisis meetings in SWG. -Anon- Comment
06/27/14:@Wondering, There
have been changes, one has to keep a close eye on Netbenefits. For example if
one retired 12/31/13 the lump sum amount (prior pension plan) was several 10K
higher and they offered 100% joint survivor. If you retired a day later 1/1/14
you lost the several 10K in lump sum and now only 50% Joint Survivor is offered.
In my case the difference was about $40K 12/31/13 vs 1/1/14. -Longtimer-
Comment
06/26/14:It looks
like Day 1 at Lenovo is on track for August 1. Lenovo has leased a new office
space for x86 nearby in RTP. Anyone have an estimate for the remaining employee
population at RTP? A site that once hosted 12,000+ IBMers is most certainly
under 5,000 today. -RTP x86 to Lenovo- Comment
06/26/14:I am slowly
getting sick of my job as a dev in IBM. Everyday, we have client support issues.
Fix this, fix that. That takes up 80% of my time. It's endless because:
1. We support 1 new version each quarter and the management didn't see fit to
expand our manpower.
2. We have subpar developers who keep breaking things and their supervisors
(who are in fact competent) not watching them closely enough
3. The upper management is hellbent to keep adding more and more to the product
when the code is becoming increasingly unstable.
I really am looking for an exit from this. It's a comfortable workplace but
I joined the industry to be at the forefront of innovation and not to endlessly
fix stupid bugs caused by half competent coders. By the way, does IBM management
spy on sametime messages? -depressed- Comment
06/26/14:-helpless- Without
a union we are ALL helpless. Some of us realized it 15 years ago. Some just
now. -Exodus2007- Comment
06/26/14:To the person
who said "Tens of thousands took T2R...". Please have more
respect for us all than to make ridiculous claims like that. You even include
"sales execs" in your blather, and those folks were not even eligible
for the program. And let's quit calling the CEO dumb and stupid. Disagree with
her all you want as do I, but she has an engineering degree from Northwestern
folks. She is neither dumb nor stupid. -BigBob- Comment
06/26/14:Taking the
T2R. 3 day workweek starting 6/28. Boss said 3 days with 2 hours ot each working
day = 30 hour workweek for me. Talked to others I know that are taking the T2R
and they said it was stated to them it's 3 8 hour days with 2 off and and anything
over 8 counts as hours owed back to you before you leave. Anyone else being
told they need to work over the 24 hours a week they were told?
-T2RTAKER- Comment
06/26/14:Sounds like
everyone agrees, the 2015 roadmap is going to kill IBM US.
Raising EPS is not a strategy, it is only results of a good strategy that obviously,
we don't have. I'm not getting why Alliance as a union of the mother company
in the US is not organizing a strike in sync with other unions World Wide to
request that "Roadmap" to be cancelled, Ginni to be disembarked of
course with no compensation has she made enough harm to that company already,
and request an actual IBMer to be designated as CIO, so that he can put back
our main resource that is IBMers in the heart of our strategy. Without this
all what is said here is just verbiage and will not avoid our boat to continue
sinking. TSS in France started a strike on their own, but obviously, 80 people
on strike will not be enough in the balance, so quite useless. I know a strike
is not in US citizen culture, not in mine either, but I don't see other ways.
-Anonymous@fr.ibm.com- Comment
06/26/14:
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/china-pulling-the-plug-on-ibm-oracle-others-2014-06-26?dist=beforebell
-Anonymous- Comment
06/26/14:-helpless-,
don't be a puppet. Work your 40 hrs then close the laptop. Take care of yourself
and your family. IBM will bleed u dry and throw away the carcass.
-Anonymous- Comment
06/26/14:An important
read for IBM mgmt:https://www.linkedin.com/today/post/article/20140625223535-75011044--the-culture-of-quittingThere is great part in there covering elements of job sat. Let's
review today's IBM:
"Job satisfaction" includes a number of values that are to be considered
by anyone...?
- Wages/Benefits <-cuts, stagnation, furloughs, 401k delay, pension games
- Job sec. <- 'Resources' in many units are regularly in fear of their job
- Company Culture <-Once great, in freefall
- Ethics & values <-Respect For the Individual long gone, Superlative
Customer Service long gone for cost savings & target games, Pursuit of Excellence
in NA questionable due to mass demoralization
-Support & training <-No budget Think40 is a joke /w no support, just
another ticky mark
- Company loyalty to its employees <- HA HA HA
- Location <- Work from just about anywhere?but best if that location is
overseas The only logical choice is to bail or Union up & actively
fight. Your choice. -YouCantRAMeIQuit- Comment
06/26/14:Hearing rumblings,
rumors in EFK about upcoming IBM announcement; happening next Wednesday, July
2. People are being asked to update their vacation plans, if they will be at
work next week. Layoffs, GF deal; who knows. -endless- Comment
06/26/14:http://uk.reuters.com/article/2014/06/25/ibm-lenovo-idUKL4N0P64VQ20140625IBM, Lenovo server deal in limbo over security worries (Reuters)
- IBM's proposed $2.3 billion sale of its low-end server business to China's
Lenovo Group is in limbo as the U.S. government investigates national security
issues, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter.
U.S. security officials and members of the Committee on Foreign Investment in
the United States (CFIUS) are worried that IBM's x86 servers used in communications
networks and in data centers supporting the Pentagon's networks could be accessed
remotely by Chinese spies or compromised, the newspaper reported.-Anon- Comment
06/25/14:I'm wondering
what happened to the rumors that there would be changed to the retirement plans
to try and force US employees to retire. At one point, there were posts on here
that said there would be changes announced that would ultimately force US employees
to retire by year end 2014. -Wondering- Comment
06/25/14:Nobody here
knows anything about a feeling of limbo right? Apparently 7,499 other people
aren't significantly concerned...http://english.caixin.com/2014-06-24/100694717.htmlhttp://online.wsj.com/articles/ibm-lenovo-tackle-security-concerns-over-server-deal-1403733716Somebody surely will pocket a few million and it will get forced
through I'm sure. I'm packing my parachute fold by fold everyday and can't wait
to pull the rip cord!Food for
thought for anyone contemplating "loyalty" in 2014, I've been here
8 years too long.http://www.forbes.com/sites/cameronkeng/2014/06/22/employees-that-stay-in-companies-longer-than-2-years-get-paid-50-less/@-helpless- Geez that sounds like a fitting handle. What planet
are you on with this comment? Is IBM holding you hostage?
Does IBM have a corner on the employment market? Have you looked for other jobs?
If you are a salaried employee, every hour over 40 you work is volunteer time
and your compensation/hourly rate declines as a result. I am going to happily
be a hired gun the rest of my career, loyalty is no longer in my dictionary
as it certainly isn't in any company's especially this one. Not to be harsh,
but it's people like you "working 12 hour days" who allow management
to try and overload everybody instead of staffing properly. What are those 12
hours a day getting you by the way... Underpaid versus the market I assume,
perhaps an ulcer, maybe strained family relationships? My heartfelt suggestion
to you, stop bitching and feeling sorry for the situation and find other employment,
that's what I and anybody who cares about their future should be doing at this
point. -GutterOil- Comment
06/25/14:CIA wants
more AWS.http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/06/25/cia_cio_aws/
-in the weeds- Comment
06/25/14:First it
was the GM, Watson leaving IBM to join a hedge fund. Now the GM of SaaS/Cloud
left IBM and joined eBay. http://www.itjungle.com/tfh/tfh031714-story08.htmlandhttp://www.internetretailer.com/2014/06/24/ibm-e-commerce-executive-moves-over-ebay-enterprise
-ex-blue- Comment
06/25/14:@helpless....
do you need help updating your resume? No one on their deathbed ever said,
"I wish I had worked more weekends and spent less time with my family."
Ever.
Change is scary - but the atmosphere of joyless forced labor camp you describe
is even scarier. IMHO, time to move along... and if there is some way for us
to find one another through the Alliance, I am sincerely offering to help with
your resume. -fifteenyearsandcounting- Comment
06/24/14:I worked
in the Endicott Plant from 1981 to 1986 4 or 5 of those years were in Bldg 018.
I left the Endicott area in 1992. How does one get included in the lawsuit?
I was never notified of anything even though I was exposed to many dangerous
chemicals in Bldg 018. -longtimebeemer- Alliance Reply: The lawsuit was originally setup
on behalf of those that came forward from the Village of Endicott residents.
It was not focused on the IBM employees. Some of the plaintiffs however, were
former IBM employees AND they were also residents of the Village of Endicott.
Alliance@IBM representatives made efforts to bring the NYS Dept of Health and
the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health in, to study the effects
on 35,000 IBM Endicott employees health records and IBM's industrial hygiene
records. Those results were published and made public in January of 2014. If
you were an employee of IBM Endicott between the years 1969and 2002, then you were included in that study.Comment
06/23/14:IBM at the
Crossroads: Employees Talk In the Shadow of Layoffs http://www.eetimes.com/document.asp?doc_id=1322766
-Anon-Comment
06/23/14:T2R -- Any
HR types lurking out there? I would love to know an approximate number of folks
who took the T2R option this time around - I know that the company was disappointed
with the acceptance rate in 2012. My hand is up.. ok, that's 1...
-fifteenyearsandcounting-Comment
06/22/14:I have been
working 12 hrs day including most weekends and it's not enough to do all the
work that is required. I have no time to even cook dinner on a Saturday for
my family. I have no time to take care of basic items like medical appointments.
I feel sad, frustrated and helpless and don't see any lights at the end of the
tunnel. -helpless-Comment
06/22/14:"Tens of
thousands" It's probably wishful thinking but you're probably in the
ball park. -anonymous-Comment
06/22/14:Full steam
ahead to Roadmap 2015 IBM! Captain Ginni: do you have you hand on the rudder?
Your deckhands never see the light of day in the boiler room. Oh yeah, forget
the weather reports of high seas, wind, storms. And those buoys out there in
the channels you'll ignore as long as EPS has any chance to go up.
-AncientMariner-Comment
06/22/14:"Tens of
Thousands of Sr. Technical Engineers, Sales Execs, Programmers, and architects
are taking T2R package." But how many thousand will decide to come back as yellow badge
IBM contractors and be treated worse than 2nd class workerbees?
-curious-Comment
06/22/14:Pennsylvania
Won't Renew IBM's Contract for Botched Projecthttp://spectrum.ieee.org/riskfactor/computing/it/pennsylvania-wont-renew-ibms-contract-for-botched-project
An IBM spokesperson said the company was "surprised"
by the state's decision. In addition, the spokesperson said that, "IBM is fully prepared to continue to bring the benefits of a contemporary
unemployment benefits system to the state and its citizens, and we stand ready
to work with the state to resolve this matter."In other words, don't blame us, instead the blame should be placed on the
state's mismanagement of the system contract for the modernization effort ending
up resembling IT roadkill. -Anon-Comment
06/22/14:This article
in the weekend WSJ on Workday pretty much sums up what a CEO should be thinking
in regards to their employees... "We've thought about it very carefully
and the employees come first. If you do that, customers will have a wonderful
experience. Happy employees create happy customers. And ultimately you will
have happy shareholders. We try to tell people not to focus on the stock price.
If you continue to innovate and improve performance, the share price will ultimately
take care of itself.".....
Perhaps Ginnie should read the WSJ from time to time. I'm sure she can afford
a subscription.
Full article -http://blogs.wsj.com/cfo/2014/06/20/workday-cfo-put-employees-first/?mod=WSJ_hps_sections_cfo
-Anonymous-Comment
06/21/14:I lived in
Endicott on the north side and many people have gotten cancer from the ground
water caused by IBM chemicals into the ground water. -Cancer Victim-
Alliance Reply: It has been verified through health studies by the National
Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the NYS Dept. of Health
that the cancer rate for Endicott village residents and IBM workers is 2 to
3 times the rate compared to a general population not living or working in that
area. However unfortunately, it cannot be scientifically proven that the cancers
are directly caused by the toxic waste. There is a $100 million
lawsuit pending and investigations of the site for persistent contamination
is on-going (which began with a clean-up of a chemical spill in 1979). There
are citizen groups and government agencies still involved in the clean-up and
the recovery of this Class II designated Superfund site.
For more information, please visit this Facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/WBESCoalitionand our health & safety page here:http://www.endicottalliance.org/ultimatetakeaway.htmComment
06/20/14:On lowering
SoftLayer prices: Looks like the elephant can't dance in the Cloud!
-IBM$uck$-Comment
06/20/14:Tens of Thousands
of Sr. Technical Engineers, Sales Execs, Programmers, and architects are taking
T2R package. No more regular beatings, no more 80 hour weeks, no more RAs, no
more excuses. This does however further drain the company of it's already shrinking
intellectual assets (seasoned veterans). This is just an effort to further reduce
US headcount and offshore more jobs to countries that cannot execute for 1/2
the price. Read this closely - THE SHIP IS GOING DOWN ! Good luck to all that
remain on a stinking rotten Titanic on the verge of PANDEMONIUM. The RAs will
continue, the beatings will continue, and the bonuses will continue to be non-existent.
The tide is turning and the Titanic is going down.
What else can they take away besides 401k match, pensions, LTD, STD, vacation,
bonuses, promotions,future health account, US Jobs, and increase cost for LTD,
STD, health, dental and other standards. Join the union now before it's too
late. -Anonymous-Comment
06/20/14:Forbes blasts
IBM again. Why The World's Dumbest Idea Is (Finally) Dying.
"As revenues fall, IBM's higher earnings targets are met through relentless
cost cutting, tax reduction gadgets and share buybacks funded by borrowing.
While IBM's share price soars, as the top managers and big investors extract
cash from it in a weird kind of reverse-Ponzi-scheme, IBM steadily becomes an
increasingly unproductive shell, a mere shadow of its once truly-innovative
self. As a triumph of financial engineering, IBM 'makes money from money',
while its future is being systematically destroyed. How many more of such disasters
will we have to witness before the shareholder primacy idea finally dies?"http://www.forbes.com/sites/stevedenning/2014/06/17/why-the-worlds-dumbest-idea-is-finally-dying/
-anon-Comment
06/19/14:"IBM lowers
its SoftLayer cloud prices while no one is looking" IBM is too late
to the big dance and once it's midnight the ride home becomes a pumpkin!-The_FOG_is_a_CLOUD-Comment
06/19/14:http://www.forbes.com/sites/stevedenning/2014/06/17/why-the-worlds-dumbest-idea-is-finally-dying/
Mentions IBM. Can anyone express the message and thoughts any better? LIFE@IBM
IS NOT GOOD. -trexibmer-Comment
06/19/14:Remember
the old Dayton Princeton Site? Thats another site that ground water was polluted
by IBM. How do they just walk away from everything they do wrong to peoples
lives? -Over55-Comment
06/18/14:I believe
that the state of NY owns the former IBM site in Fishkill. If that is the case
then under Federal and State labor laws you can pass out fliers, freely talk,
and organize Alliance members and supporters just outside the doors as well
as lunch, snack, and break areas! For instance, EFK parking lots are fair game
for organizing. So what R U all waiting for?!-Alliance
Supporter-Comment
06/18/14:I still feel
if IBM makes anyone who signed a non-compete agreement and then fires you without
the enhanced separation package should have you released from the agreement.
If IBM deems you a PBC 3 thus, in their opinion, lacking in making business
commitments then what should IBM fear from you competing against them? They
can't hold you hostage in finding another IT job if they rate you as "unacceptable"..
-anonymous-Comment
06/18/14:Sorry, red
Mandarin font not available for the chosen ones who are "transitioning".http://teespring.com/comakesmedrink
-ThanksAward-Comment
06/18/14:-Off-to-Lenovo-
The grass might seem much greener...But, please remember, Lenovo is controlled
by Chinese communists and their interests. And any communist ultimately don't
play fair, just like mother IBM. -don't_be_fooled-Comment
06/18/14:@-Off-to-Lenovo-
You're using the term "we" somewhat loosely my friend. Have you
done any polling of people who transferred in 2005 or Lenovo employees in general
about their sentiments on the Lenovo experience? I have, not a lot of "highly
recommends". Look at Glassdoor if you don't have contacts you're comfortable
to engage 1 on 1. After they have the IP and know-how the agenda will quickly
become "how fast can we move x,y,z to China for cost savings". Think
TSTL history on a grander scale. Are you paid at market value? I'm not. And
people are supposed to be happy with a "comparable offer"? What is
the incentive to transfer, continued employment and a shiny new cubicle? ror
Lenovo and IBM appear to have the arrogance of thinking they have the employment
market cornered... And I wonder why the CFIUS approval hasn't been granted yet
hmmmm. Just like Uncle Sam very well may do, I think I'll pass...
-GutterOil-Comment
06/17/14:Lenovo had
the roadshow the other week. Obviously it is slanted to be positive, but everything
about it was very positive. They operate like IBM used to in the 70s and 80s.
Not exactly the same, but close to SAS. The only negative was the 401k match.
IBM matches 100% of the first 6% if you are employed on Dec 15. Lenovo matches
50% of the first 6% immediately. Easy to deal with the difference by gains throughout
the year.
We only have history to show from the PC sale. However, there is a huge difference.
Lenovo had a complete PC division already and wanted the name and sales channels.
It is different with the x86 business. They have almost no footprint and duplication
of work. All I know is that we are leaving a terminally cancerous company to
a company that is greeting us with open arms and potential.-Off-to-Lenovo-Comment
06/16/14:To: longtimebeemer
& Alliance: I believe that the state of NY owns the former IBM site
in Fishkill. I think it was "transferred" as part of the incentive
to put in the 300mm semiconductor line. -gone2013-Comment
06/16/14:For sure
there is lead in the water at EFK. That is a fact jack! I bet the homes around
the site off Lime Kiln Rd. and Old State Rd. in East Fishkill/Wicoppee and vicinity
have elevated TCE levels from any waste wash from the fab.
Of course IBM will deny it as "without merit".
BTW: IBM was asking Dutchess County to reduce the price it paid per gallon of
water delivered to EFK by the pipeline under the Dutchess Poughkeepsie Railroad
rail trail since it contained to much urea (a nature waste product produced
by mammals (i.e humans) and IBM contended it was "too contaminated"
to be used in EFK even though the urea level was well within environmental limits.
Reckon IBM wanted the water for about free...as "settlement" of tax
on the water supply. -Pok'edEFK-Comment
06/16/14:IBM has polluted
the East Fishkill site. Part of the remediation is to constantly pump water
from underground wells in order to contain the plume of toxic chemicals from
spreading into the water supply. Most of the area residents have wells. A few
years back IBM helped pay for a water supply from the Hudson River. It took
years for them to lay the pipeline, only to find that the water was too salty
to use. How many ways can you say 'Major F***-Up'. IBM only pretends to be a
good community citizen all the while using the town and state for their own
greedy profits.
http://www.epa.gov/region02/waste/fsibmhop.htm-24
Yr Resident of East Fishkill-Comment
06/16/14:This IT worker
had to train an H-1B replacement.http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9248996/This_IT_worker_had_to_train_an_H_1B_replacementThe references in the article sure make this sound like a Big
Blue facility. . .-4NONYmoU2-Comment
06/16/14:HR can get
copies of non competes and confidentiality agreements you signed.
-Left 2013-Comment
06/16/14: -anon- Take a trip to the
Triple Cities (Binghamton, Johnson City, Endicott) area to see what will happen
when IBM leaves East Fishkill. -longtimebeemer-
Alliance reply: Endicott is also heavily affected by the pollution or "plume"
of toxic chemical waste (TCE) that lurks under nearly 300 acres of the Village
of Endicott. Most of it is IBM's waste from 40 + years of releasing, dumping
and spilling the waste; either accidentally or otherwise. The clean-up of the
former IBM Endicott facility has been underway since 1979--and it's still going
on. In spite of that 24/7/365 activity, there is still a significant amount
of toxic waste to be cleaned up. The Federal government assigned this site as
a Superfund Class 2 situation, in 2004.
The question that should be asked by the East Fishkill community is: What kind
of pollution is IBM leaving behind there?Comment
06/16/14:If Global
just took some workers from BTV and EFK and left the plants... wouldn't it take
a couple of years to dismantle the plants? Just asking, I'm in mfg in BTV and
hoping for a chance to stay on while looking for another job. -James-Comment
06/16/14:What if IBM
left East Fishkill? IBM actually partially has already left East Fishkill! Take
a look if you can of the West Campus. It is not a pretty site. What will IBM
East Fishkill look like after IBM totally leaves? Take a look at the remains
of the former IBM Kingston plant. Ugly dumps of dirt and rubble and probably
toxic to boot.-anonymous2-Comment
06/16/14:IBM lowers
its SoftLayer cloud prices while no one is lookinghttp://venturebeat.com/2014/06/11/softlayer-prices/
-4n0nyM0u5-Comment
06/14/14:What if IBM
left East Fishkill?http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/story/news/2014/06/14/ibm-left/10537609/
-anon-Comment
06/14/14:Need help
for my NCAs. I am planning to leave IBM soon but I've lost my copy of non-competition
agreement I signed when I was hired in2013. I am at IBM GBS. Does anyone have
a copy of that document? Would that be possible to send me a copy? Many thanks
here! -Leaving-Comment
06/14/14:FYI: IBM
Wiccopee is IBM East Fishkill (EFK). IBM Burlington is IBM Essex Junction (BTV).-da_facts-Comment
06/14/14:Insightful
comments on LinkedIn from people who left IBM. Perhaps, the power of social
media can influence change.https://www.linkedin.com/groupAnswers?viewQuestionAndAnswers=&discussionID=5880749937032974339&gid=1712&goback=%2Egna_1712#commentID_null
-Social-Comment
06/14/14:The problem
isn't with insufficient IBMers joining the Alliance, but with technology workers
in GENERAL ->http://techcrunch.com/2013/07/29/why-labor-unions-and-silicon-valley-arent-friends-in-2-charts/... it doesn't matter if you're a ditch digger or a software engineer
... YOU NEED A UNION TO PROTECT YOUR INTERESTS! Companies have legions of lawyers
to protect theirs ... who do YOU have?? .....Exactly ... -Exodus2014-Comment
06/14/14:-theDeal- I
do not know what the Lenovo deal will be. However when Printing Systems was
sold to Ricoh they were considered resigned from IBM and qualified for IBM retirement
benefits based on where they stood in the plan. For those eligible for full
benefits they could start drawing if they wished. For those not eligible they
were limited to the vested rights rules. Same with the FHA. Once they were with
Ricoh they were under it's plan which I believe is a 401K only plan.
-anonymous_retiree-Comment
06/13/14: IBM local chip plant future cloudyhttp://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/story/money/economy/2014/06/12/ibm-chip-plant-globalfoundries/10402029/
Questions about the future of IBM's Wiccopee plant are increasing with a new
report that IBM Corp. and GlobalFoundries are nearing a deal for part of Big
Blue's semiconductor business.
Would the plant be part of the deal? Nobody is talking, and even the financial
media that claim to have inside information aren't saying it's a done deal.
The latest report from Bloomberg this week states that if GlobalFoundries buys
IBM's semiconductor manufacturing business, its primary interest is in getting
the talent and the intellectual property, rather than real property, such as
aging chip plants. -Chips Ahoy-Comment
06/13/14:Please join
the Alliance if you are viewing this site and have not joined yet. IBM has not
announced another RA layoff/firing but you can bet one will happen before this
year is out. Right now individual RAs (sniper firings based on PBC 3's) are
still happening. We need to stop this madness. We have to be vigilant and united!
The only way is to join the Alliance!-IBMUnionYES-Comment
06/13/14:Executive
Compensation is the reason for no Bonus Checkshttp://www.secform4.com/insider-trading/1180618.htm
-SEC Filings-Comment
06/13/14:Can any x86
IBM employees who are affected by the Lenovo deal provide some details as to
what the transfer will mean once you become a Lenovo employee. Will your years
of service carry over? If you were getting 4 weeks of vacation will that carry
over? If you where on the old pension, will that transfer to Lenvovo or will
your pension stay with IBM? etc, etc. Or, have no details been released yet?
-theDeal-Comment
06/13/14:I agree something/someone/some
group needs to collectively stand up for the employees that stuff the wallets
of these greedy leaders. What puzzles me is why this push for organization is
not more well known. Perhaps leveraging social media would get the word out.
Has that been advanced? -Concerned ibm'er-Alliance reply: The Alliance web site has had well
over 8,000,000 hits from all over the world's IBM locations. Alliance has a
Twitter account and a Facebook account (see our front page, Spotlight section).
We have consistently sent emails to IBMers on a regular basis, since we began
in 1999. We have press coverage by hundreds of internet news and blog sites.
Whether or not our "push for organization" is well known, is debatable.
The key to the whole process are the IBM workers' efforts to organize their
co-workers, once they've become Alliance@IBM members. Joining is easy and there
is a join section and a donate section on this comments page. The IBM workers
must make the effort to join, AND organize at every opportunity. You must never
expect the union to do it all, while you stand on the sidelines. Promotional
expenses for advertising Alliance@IBM publicly can be astronomical. The best
advice we can give you is to join the Alliance, and then get your co-workers
to join. There are risks associated with any organizing campaign. Being anonymous
is not one of those risks. Consider joining today, and start the process in
your dept or function and organize. It is the ONLY option left that will work.Comment
06/12/14:Hearing at
IBM East Fishkill that the site has been sold with an offical announcement this
Monday..http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20140611/BIZ/406110319
-Left in the Bag !-Comment
06/12/14:From a financial
security point of view it is irrelevant to these Execs if IBM eventually goes
over the cliff. They will have screwed as much as possible out of our company,
built by the IBM serfdom and secured their family dynasties future. Many an
English Lord can trace his ancestry back to brigands, pirates and mercenaries
who found fortune and favour. The Gerstners, Palmisanos and Rommetys will be
no doubt doing damage to this world for generations to come. -Anonymous-Comment
06/12/14:-Getting the Shaft-
Yes, notice they sell more than they acquire. The $0 per share dispositions
at non Open Market is something isn't it?!? Not only do we desperately need
a union. We need to reign in these thieves. We need and should demand more ethical
management from IBM. IBM management say times are tough (so no raises, continued
RAs, a 401k match change, increasing healthcare costs, etc.) and IBM executives
continue to reward themselves lavishly with stock in the million$..they lie
and deceive to us by these actions!!!-$ellSell$ell-Comment
06/12/14:IBM is worried
about loosing customers in X86 sale to Lenovo.http://www-03.ibm.com/systems/infrastructure/us/en/it-infrastructure/lenovo-acquisition.html-Anonymous-Comment
06/11/14:IBM Said
Near Deal With Globalfoundries for Chip-Makinghttp://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-06-10/ibm-said-near-deal-with-globalfounderies-for-chip-making-unit.html
-anon-Comment
06/11/14:
It seems as though some IBM executives are doing very well while the rest of
us get the shaft. We need a union in this company.Jun 8, 2014 GHERSON DIANE JOfficer 1,398 Direct Option Exercise at $0per
share. N/A
Jun 8, 2014 GHERSON DIANE JOfficer 513 Direct Disposition (Non Open Market)
at $186.78 per share. 95,818
May 5, 2014 ARNOLD COLLEEN F.Officer 5,460 Direct Sale at $191.06 - $191.1 per
share. 1,043,0002
May 2, 2014 KELLY JOHN E IIIOfficer 1,799 Direct Sale at $193.43 - $193.48 per
share. 348,0002
May 2, 2014 KELLY JOHN E IIIOfficer 1,500 Direct Disposition (Non Open Market)
at $0 per share. N/A
May 2, 2014 KELLY JOHN E IIIOfficer 12,742 Direct Sale at $192.77 - $193.41
per share. 2,460,0002
May 2, 2014 KELLY JOHN E IIIOfficer 21,972 Direct Option Exercise at $101.33
per share. 2,226,422
May 2, 2014 KELLY JOHN E IIIOfficer 7,431 Direct Sale at $192.56 - $192.76 per
share. 1,432,0002-Getting the Shaft-
Alliance Reply: The Alliance has been saying this for 15 years. Every year,
IBM Executives "exercise their options" and every year IBM fires hundreds
if not thousands of US IBMers. Yet, it seems that all that
negative activity doesn't affect the majority of IBMers enough to sign up, join,
and take some concerted action to get a majority of IBMers to form a real union
that can call for a vote and install a union within IBM. IBM will never run
out of "shafts", as long as IBMers keep making them for IBM. Organize.
Seriously.Comment
06/11/14:I watched
this video and at the tail end of the video I immediately thought about IBM's
roadmap and the impact on their "most valuable asset".http://www.upworthy.com/no-one-applauds-this-woman-because-theyre-too-creeped-out-at-themselves-to-put-their-hands-together?c=tkp1
-Anonymous-Comment
06/11/14:Warren Buffett
Is Missing Red Flags At IBMhttp://seekingalpha.com/article/2262963-warren-buffett-is-missing-red-flags-at-ibm
-anon-Comment
06/10/14:-Dave- No.
Once your manager has your badge, verifies your corporate credit card is $0
balance, collects your laptop, and informs HR, and you are removed from CERIS
by EOD, you are paid up till you are "shown the door". IBM does not
pay you for work not given even if you offer 2 weeks service before you leave.
It's all up to IBM management and IBM management is paid to $ave all them $.001s
to make Roadkill 2015. -IBM$ucks-Comment
06/10/14:IBM is toast
by 2025. It will wiggle past Roadmap 2015 selling things off like a cheap tag
sale UNLESS YOU ORGANIZE NOW and SAVE YOUR WORKPLACE!!! IBM might still be around
come 2025 as Itty Bitty Machines Corporation.-da_facts-Comment
06/10/14:A Big Blue
Deja' Vu: Is It 1914 Or 1984 For The Long-Term IBM Investor?
Tom Watson Sr. inherited a company in financial and cultural trouble.
John Akers inherited a company in financial trouble.
Ginni Rometty inherited a company in cultural trouble.
The next path chosen "not the roadmap enforced" will determine IBM's
long-term future. History does not repeat itself, but it does rhyme. -ByeByeBlue-Comment
06/9/14:It's absolutely
true that depending upon what area of IBM you work in, it ranges from dismal
(SWG) to the fires of hell (GBS IGA). -Anonymous-Comment
06/9/14:-Not so confident-
IBM executive insiders hardly ever invest their own real salaried money
in IBM stock. They only take the stock options and stock bonus crack and reap
the greed and 'tax planning purposes' when they exercise/sell it.-OtherPeoplesMoney-Comment
06/7/14:Agreed on
"The Decline and Fall of IBM" ebook. It puts to paper what
a lot of us have/are seeing. There's a few things that I don't think he got
quite right and/or are more dependent on what section of the company one is,
but all in all, very accurate and paints a detailed picture of what is going
on. The sad thing is - I doubt anything will change until the company is too
far gone. It will be interesting to see what happens after EPS 2015.
-*Watson's_Tumbler*-Comment
06/6/14:If we IBMers
don't care enough about our fate to organize, why should anyone else care enough
about us to save us? Is everyone here a member? If not, please tell us what's
holding you back. From what I read here, we're all in agreement that it can't
get much worse for us. -Union member-Comment
06/6/14:http://finance.yahoo.com/q/it?s=IBM+Insider+TransactionsNo senior exec is investing. So they're not believers in hitting the
2015 target, I suspect.-Not so confident-Comment
06/6/14:The Decline
and Fall of IBM...WOW, I just started reading this book and all I can say is
every IBM'er ought to either join the union right now, or bail on the company.
-anonymous-Comment
06/6/14:-Lost in Band 10-:
ha. just have your friends copy the job requirements and place them in their
resume. The mgr probably doesn't have any US resources to really validate that
the resumes are accurate. Existing resources are probably in India, and FLM's
can't think for ---t and need someone to tell them if the resume is valid or
not. -KD-Comment
06/6/14:More often
than not the pattern is you are rail-roaded out of your job on trumped up charges
of non-performance and your smug FLM says you can appeal this decision up stream.
This seems to be a non-stater and unfair considering the upstream managers were
in collusion when they trumped up the charges against you and convicted you
of non-performance in absentia. This would have been like appealing to Gestapo
leaders for false conviction. Good luck with that one. -anon-Comment
06/5/14:"Its too bad
Sam Louie and Ginny are hiding from the IBM employees. There are a lot of questions
that need to be answered from these three CEOs. -ANA-"But who will ask those questions? Not the government. Not the Board of
directors. Not the rank and file employees. Certainly not anyone in management.
If IBMers do not organize no one will ever fight for them. If IBMers do not
fight for themselves then there is no fight.-Exodus2007-Comment
06/5/14:The 2 week
notice v Walked out the door question has been asked a lot. The answer (at least
in NY), comes down to management discretion. I have seen people allowed to work
as long as they wanted, after announcing a job offer at another company, others
were walked to the door when they told management. (in one case, 2 people, same
company, same manager... Different results.) And, AFAIK, pay stops when you
leave (period) -CommonSense-Comment
06/5/14:http://www.businessweek.com/news/2014-06-03/hp-and-ibm-list-north-korea-as-a-supplier-in-conflict-mineral-reportsHP and IBM List North Korea as a Supplier in Conflict-Mineral
Reports.
IBM's filing said North Korea processed gold that may be used in its products.
Douglas Shelton, a spokesman for the company, declined to comment, saying only
that IBM expects suppliers to "procure minerals from responsible sources."
-Ginnis Gold-Comment
06/5/14:In re: -I
don't believe it either-: Those long job ads are called tombstone ads.
It means the IBM manager has already selected a foreign person to hire. Then
the manager draws up a job description that is entirely based on the prospective
hires education and resume. So only one person can possibly meet the requirement.
Legal taught us to do this back when I was hiring in the 90's. Then HR does
the paperwork to the government to prove that since on one else applied for
the job IBM is forced to hire the foreign national. If someone does apply for
one of those jobs the manager has to review the resume and qualifications and
perhaps interview him, then write an explanation of why he wasn't qualified.
So if you want to have some fun, have friends and family apply for those jobs.
The company can't ignore them legally so they have to spend time and effort
disqualifying them. -Lost in Band 10-Comment
06/5/14:Given the
current political environment, does anyone realistically see the xSeries divestiture
to Lenovo being approved by the US Government?http://www.ibtimes.com/china-says-us-making-strategic-mistakes-risks-making-china-its-enemy-1592961

http://www.thestarphoenix.com/business/charges+Chinese+soldiers+with+industrial+spying/9857285/story.htmlhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/hugh-white/china-america-relations_b_5412014.html-China Rising-Comment
06/4/14:IBM's "Yellow
Brick Road 2020" is without the ruby slippers! -TheGreatOz-Comment
06/4/14:Regarding
job postings. One was created specifically for me to back fill. I applied, did
not hear back, pressed the issue and was told it "was filled". Not
possible, the position was for specific skills and could not legally be filled
by an offshored person. Later I was told the listing was pro-forma, That in
reality there was no money to fill it. -anon-Comment
06/4/14:Ginni, start
cooking the books for 2Q."Lenovo, IBM Said to Seek Extension in U.S. Review of Deal".
The decision to refile with CFIUS"does
indicate that things haven't gone smoothly,"said
Harry Clark, a lawyer at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP in Washington.
"At some level some challenges have been encountered," he said.
"That could be anything from they were relatively modest and there's time
to get it all done and they may have clear path to getting it done, or it could
mean it's a desperate situation."
-Uh Oh-Comment
06/4/14:The Decline
and Fall of IBMhttp://www.cringely.com/2014/06/04/decline-fall-ibm/
-bad tidings-
Alliance reply: In regards to Cringley's introduction there was local reporting
in Rochester MN and other locations as well. The Alliance comments section has
been read widely worldwide by the media, and Robert Cringley.Comment
06/3/14: http://seekingalpha.com/article/2251423-ibm-worth-260-per-share
-Really?-Comment
06/3/14: U.S tech worker groups boycott Infy,
IBM and Manpowerhttp://www.thehindu.com/business/Industry/us-tech-worker-groups-boycott-infy-ibm-and-manpower/article6079180.ece
-Anonymous-Comment
06/3/14:Per Forbes
Critics point to Palmisano?s exit package from IBM, enabling him to clear an
estimated $225 million, including all the options, restricted stock, pensions,
deferred compensation, bells and whistles. The crook ( Sammy ) walks away with
millions from IBM, while he Ginny and Louie continue to cut back pensions benefits
salaries and retirement health insurance on the backs of hardworking IBMers.
IBM employees need a employee union contract to stop this greed and corruption.
Its to bad Sam Louie and Ginny are hiding from the IBM employees . There are
a lot of questions that need to be answered from these three CEOs.
-ANA-Comment
06/3/14:An interesting
document is floating around for what is to come after Roadmap 2015. It's titled
"Yellow Brick Road 2020". -Gone-Comment
06/3/14:To -We
don't buy that line-: Dude, your sure right on 100% about this!
In NY State, IBM lists available jobs, but they are all bogus (except the ones
in Nanotech perhaps). A few jobs look like the one I had before RA. In fact,
one was probably my actual job assignment! Of course these bogus employment
postings are not challenged by NY State and the NY Dept. of Labor for PILOT,
tax breaks, and job creation initiatives. Some job postings, like in the NY
Times, Gannett group newspapers, are almost a column long of job qualifications
and descriptive duties making it clear no one could possibly have all the requirements
for the IBM job. So IBM uses this to lobby for more H1B visas since all IT workers
in USA are 'under qualified' in IBM's very cataract-ed eyes.-I
don't buy it either-Comment
06/3/14:If leaving
IBM and you admit you are leaving to a competitor, I know you will be walked
out the door immediately. You still are laid your two weeks whether walked out
the door or not, correct? -Dave-Comment
06/3/14:I talk to
a guy from a local institutions. He mentioned where they did a POC with IBM
for some software. It all went well until.. IBM presented the institution with
the final contract. The contract apparently put in clauses that increases the
TCO over 5 years. The institution contracts guy was pissed for this slight of
hand by IBM. He immediately terminated the relationship with IBM. Dupe the customer
for more money to give to shareholders.. That ought to work well long term!
-contract-Comment
06/2/14:I used to
be an IBM'er. I hated the place. I went to HP instead. over the years I have
noticed HP is quickly following in IBM's shoes, like lemmings and the pied piper.
Well today is layoff day at HP and unfortunately I was affected. My manager
would not say how many people on my team were affected today. the deal is you
get paid out the 60 days warn notice, and one week per year of service. A minimum
of 11 weeks gets paid out overall. -EX Hp'er-Comment
06/2/14:http://www.zdnet.com/chinas-inspur-vows-to-take-over-ibms-local-business-7000030042/China's Inspur vows to take over IBM's local business Inspur Group
Ltd, a Chinese domestic server maker, says 80 ex-IBM employees have joined after
it recently started a campaign to lure customers from Big Blue.Late last week the Chinese server business unveiled its
"IBM to Inspur" initiative in Jinan, Shandong province, vowing to
take over IBM's server business in the country after reports indicated China's
government has banned local banks from using IBM servers due to security concerns.
On Thursday, Inspur told Chinese media the company is ready to 'comprehensively'
take over IBM's server business in China. Some 80 IBM former employees have
already joined Inspur, according to the company.-China Uh Oh-Comment
06/2/14:Re:"There have been two instances I'm aware of where management threatened
to walk the employee our the door if they didn't disclose where they were going."Mislead them, give a Mark Twain "lie" since IBM management has
been misleading FUD to us for many years now. Touche' They can't fire you if
you are already leaving!-IdiotsBecomeManagement-Comment
05/31/14:How many of you have taken loans from your 401k in recent years
to "catch up"? No raises...diminishing benefits...low, to no morale.
Many of my co-workers, if not all of them - - have not gotten a raise in years.
Cost of living continually rises yet IBM pay has remained stagnant. This place
is a waste of time. But we all know that already. -Belt_axe-Comment
05/31/14:Forbes Article - Why IBM is in Declinehttp://www.forbes.com/sites/stevedenning/2014/05/30/why-ibm-is-in-decline/
-ibmindecline-Comment
05/30/14:IBM's Shelton said, "IBM's long-standing commitment to
workforce diversity recognizes the contributions that all individuals make to
IBM's success, regardless of age. At any given time, IBM has thousands of open
positions in the U.S., many of them are entry level positions in our business'
strategic growth areas." <=== alot of those jobs are bogus, or
are intended for a specific person with no chances of any kind of competitive
internal selection process. I had applied for an internal job before I was let
go on 3/31, that was perfect for me. My mgr pressed the hiring manager and was
told it was for someone else in the org. There's some IBM requirement that the
job be posted, although the hiring manager has no intention of considering others...
totally bogus process. BTW, I was contacted by a recruiting manager about a
position I applied for outside of IBM. The person noted I had been with IBM
for over 20 years and wondered why I wanted to leave. ha. Dude, I was laid off.
-We don't buy that line-Comment
05/29/14:"Suit says IBM targeted older workers for cuts" --http://www.ithacajournal.com/article/20140528/BUSINESS/305280090/Suit-says-IBM-targeted-older-workers-cuts
-anon-Comment
05/29/14:"To _Anon_ and _Anonymous_, Why exactly would someone not want
to disclose where they are going if you've given notice? " You should
not freely disclose private information about yourself. You don't know when
it will come back to bite you. Its one thing if you post on DICE when looking
for a job but to post a running tab or your personal or professional life is
just plain foolish. People who post to linkedin and facebook post content for
free with which they make millions with paltry if any returns to you. At least
make them pay for it. -The Network-Comment
05/29/14:There has been a lot of discussion recently about IBM stock buybacks.
Here's an article making the rounds about that:http://davidstockmanscontracorner.com/big-blue-stock-buy-back-machine-on-steriods/
This draws a straight line between buybacks and executive compensation, particularly
options.
And, this: "During the 7-years ending in 2013 IBM booked about $100
billion in net income, and spent virtually every single penny on share buy backs."
This is entirely criminal. There is an IBM bubble coming, and when it bursts,
you'll know why. -Ben Dover-Comment
05/29/14:http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9248319/Laid_off_IBM_workers_allege_age_bias_in_lawsuit Three former IBM employees, all laid off last year, have filed
a lawsuit in federal court alleging they were victims of age discrimination.
-anon-Comment
05/29/14:Lawsuit for layoff of IBMers.http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/story/news/local/2014/05/28/suit-ibm-age-bias/9697779/
-Joe-Comment
05/29/14:Lenovo is probably using IBM intellectual secrets to create it's
own mainframe line. The Chinese bankers who are masters in currency manipulation
and shadow banking and probably many politburo members too wouldn't want it
any other way.
Never could trust a communist government and we just had Memorial Day to prove
it. Obvious Big Blue doesn't mix with Red. Now watch for more IBM RAs in of
all places: China. -anonymous-Comment
05/29/14:http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20140528/BIZ/405280311/-1/NEWSAn employee who was laid off at IBM?s East Fishkill semiconductor
plant in July has filed an age discrimination against the company.Before his
termination, McCormack, who worked in coding, applied for at least 15 positions
at the company, according to his lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in White
Plains.
He didn't get any of the jobs. IBM managers and supervisors told him those positions
had been targeted for "young persons" who had recently graduated from
college, according to the lawsuit. McCormack, however, had recently graduated
from college: In 2012, he received a degree in computer engineering.-anonymous-Comment
05/29/14:Hmmm, with HP announcing that they are laying off more folks,
it appears to be a two-way contest between two of the CEO's of the IT titans.
Who will win the contest, Ginny or Meg. At least Meg is up front with the numbers.
-Ginny Tookus-Comment
05/28/14:The huge increases in pay for IBM CEOS started when Louie became
CEO. He was the one who destroyed a great company with his greed and corruption.
He has destroyed many IBM families with RAs. Sam and Ginni have followed. Those
three have employment contracts, without a union all other IBMers are at will
employees. IBM employees need a union to protect us from greed and corruption
by the these three CEOs who stole our pensions, benefits, retirement and salaries
so they could receive millions per year in perks private jets ect, stock options,
and salary They and their families are will taken care of ON THE BACKS OF HARD
WORKING IBMERS, while the rest of us worry about RAs every quarter. Join the
union -ANA.-Comment
05/28/14:Another nail in the SoftLayer coffin.http://blogs.barrons.com/techtraderdaily/2014/05/28/ibm-can-softlayer-save-their-cloud-asks-ubs-a-lou-gerstner-moment
IBM: Can SoftLayer Save Their Cloud? Asks UBS; A Lou Gerstner Moment
UBS's Steve Millunovich today reiterated a Neutral rating on shares of IBM,
which he believes faces something of a Lou Gerstner moment in its evolution,
banking on the acquisition last year of startup Softlayer Technologies to help
the company?s position in cloud computing.-anon-Comment
05/28/14:IBM faces age bias suit. A former employee of IBM's semiconductor
plant in East Fishkill filed a federal class-action lawsuit against Big Blue
this month, claiming the multinational corporation laid him off because of his
age.....http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20140528/BIZ/405280311
-JustSaying-Comment
05/28/14:Why do the actions of the Chinese government surprise anyone?
IBM like many American corporations turned a blind eye to the fact that their
proprietary information would not be safe. Confidentiality agreements or not
it was known that Chinese employees owed their loyalty to the government not
IBM and would provide the government whatever they wanted. Once the Chinese
government got what it needed it could do away with IBM. Just think how much
of this might have been avoided if IBM US employees had been unionized. While
there is no guarantee this wouldn't have happened it would have been a lot less
likely with the work being performed here with US employees. -anonymous_retiree-Comment
05/28/14:"It is important to not put where you work on LinkedIn" ...
How did this board go from layoff rumors to absurd career advice? -Anon-This is the hide under the desk mentality that has prevented organization
at IBM. Even after leaving, people are scared of the Big Blue Monster. Better
to hide under the desk or melt into the woodwork than risk anything that might
sound like resistance . Sad indeed isn't it? -Exodus2007-Comment
05/28/14:My buddy just got his third Transition to Retirement reminder,
the deadline for his response is June 6. I wondered why I didn't get one since
our age is similar and I have more years in IBM. It turns out that commission
employees are not eligible. Anyone know why? I was really hoping for it to get
off this sinking ship. Same reason that some folks didn't get their GDP bonus,
despite Ginny saying she was giving it to "non-Executive PBC 1's"
without qualifying it as non-commission only. More lies. --NoTransition--Comment
05/28/14:To -also_in_RTP-. It's better to keep your integrity
and respect and walk out rather than cave into their abusive pressure. If you're
already on the way out, I doubt the 2weeks pay would make up for the horrible
feeling you may have with disclosing where you're going. I knew I would feel
like $#!+ if I caved in so I didn't and feel so much better now.
-sad_in_RTP-Comment
05/28/14:-OuttaThere- you did the right thing taking your whole FSA! Good
for you to look after yourself other than give any credit to the Big Blue Pig!
Remember take care of #1 and don't step in #2 (IBM)! -IdiotsBecomeManagement-Comment
05/28/14: "China Orders Banks To Remove High-End IBM Servers"Chinese government is still communist and we lost thousands of lives and
had thousands of wounded we just memorialized this weekend. Once Lenovo gets
into high end servers then as Paul Harvey used to say "you now know
the rest of the story".-DeadRed-Comment
05/27/14:The CEO Got a Huge Raise. You Didn't. Here's Why.
http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory/ceo-huge-raise-didnt-23883926Pay for globe-trotting CEOs has soared to new heights, even as
most workers remain grounded by paychecks that are barely budging. While pay
for the typical CEO of a company in the Standard & Poor's 500 stock index
surged 8.8 percent last year to $10.5 million, it rose a scant 1.3 percent for
U.S. workers as a whole. That CEO now earns 257 times the national average,
up from a multiple of 181 in 2009, according to an analysis by The Associated
Press and Equilar.
Those figures help reveal a widening gap between the ultra-wealthy and ordinary
workers around the world. That gap has fed concerns about economic security
- everywhere from large cities where rents are high to small towns where jobs
are scarce. Here are five reasons why CEOs are enjoying lavish pay increases
and five reasons many people are stuck with stagnant incomes. -Anon-Comment
05/27/14:China Orders Banks To Remove High-End IBM Servershttp://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-05-27/first-microsoft-now-ibm-china-orders-banks-remove-high-end-ibm-servers

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-05-27/china-said-to-push-banks-to-remove-ibm-servers-in-spy-dispute.html
-anon-Comment
05/27/14:Not the kind of headlines that you want:http://www.businessweek.com/news/2014-05-27/china-said-to-push-banks-to-remove-ibm-servers-in-spy-disputeThe Chinese government is reviewing whether domestic banks' reliance
on high-end servers from International Business Machines Corp.
(IBM:US) compromises the nation's financial security, people familiar with the
matter said -NoMorale-Comment
05/27/14:Re: "There have been two instances I'm aware of where management
threatened to walk the employee our the door if they didn't disclose where they
were going."Who cares? If you give notice, and they walk you out early they're only
hurting themselves. Hell, I think I'd call their bluff if they threatened that..
I'm glad I left in 2012 on my own accord.-Glad-I-Left-Comment
05/27/14:More trouble for Ginni in China....http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-05-27/china-said-to-push-banks-to-remove-ibm-servers-in-spy-dispute.html
-anon-Comment
05/27/14:"It is important to not put where you work on LinkedIn" ...
How did this board go from layoff rumors to absurd career advice?
-Anon-Comment
05/27/14:China kicking IBM when it's down.http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/05/27/china_ponders_ban_on_ibm_servers/China ponders ban on IBM servers
The dispute between China and the USA over backdoor-riddled information technology
equipment has just heated up, with Bloomberg reporting Chinese authorities are
wondering whether the time has come for local banks to ditch their IBM servers.
The newswire's report mentions "high-end" servers and suggests Chinese
authorities 'are reviewing whether Chinese commercial banks' reliance on the
IBM servers compromises the country's financial security.Might China therefore
be taking aim at an American icon? IBM's hardware division is not in rude health.
Even the mere suggestion Big Blue is in cahoots with US authorities won't make
it any easier to shift boxes, making life harder for IBM at a time it needs
to be fighting off spookware allegations like it needs a hole in the head.-Anon-Comment
05/27/14:To _Anon_ and _Anonymous_, Why exactly would someone
not want to disclose where they are going if you've given notice? You are already
quitting. If they ask you to leave that day, who cares... it relieves you of
having to work out 2 additional weeks. I was happy to tell my old manager and
friends where I was going... letting them see that there are other places to
work. Also, you are advising not to put where you work on LinkedIn.... that
is a big mistake as I've known a lot of people to get jobs through networking
on LinkedIn, and it helped me. Again, why the secrecy as to where you are going...
if you are quitting, who cares what IBM knows about you??? -Gonein2013-Comment
05/27/14:Everyone, and I mean everyone who reads this forum should join
Alliance. You're here, so you must recognize some value in it. Nothing will
change until enough people join. It's only $15 a month for full membership.
Fifty cents a day? Who cannot afford that? -Anonymous-Comment
05/27/14:-IdiotsBecomeManagement-: Oops, I meant FSA, not HSA! And as I'm
sure you know (since you caught the error re HSA), there is no legal way IBM
can come after an employee for using their entire FSA amount for a calendar
year, even if they leave before the end of the year, if there are enough qualified
medical expenses while employed. -OuttaThere-Comment
05/26/14:@I'veBeenMowed - being knighted is not royalty. Not even close.
But I agree with everything else. -Anon-Comment
05/26/14:IBM selling the VT plant will destroy the economy of Vermont.
I lived in Endicott and I saw how Lou Gerstner destroyed Endicott and the surrounding
areas economy. Real Estate plummeted, car sales plummeted, revenue down in restaurants
bankruptcies increased, and IBM families destroyed. In less than two decades
IBM went from employing 10000 IBMers in Endicott, to today approximate 700.
Its all about greedy and corrupt CEOS. Join the union -ANA-Comment
05/25/14: "also used up my entire HSA for the year, although I had only
paid into it for a month. :-)"
-OuttaThere- Be forewarned IBM will likely come after you for HSA reimbursement.
It might take time since the elephant is slow but it will happen unfortunately
for you. Every last $.001 to make the IBM executives filthier rich and to get
to that magic 2015 EPS. -IdiotsBecomeManagement-Comment
05/25/14:"CEOs greed and corruption have destroyed this once great company"Sir (he was knighted in the UK so he is officially royalty) Louis
Gerstner II perfected that poison pill. Just like large Corporations are just
like our USA Government: greed, corruption, and a willingness to do nothing
(except for their very selves) of any real, substantive value for the majority
of the people. Labor Day will probably mean more in this country in a few years
with the systematic death of the middle class that made this country what it
was.
We can call it Labor Memorial Day but the 1ers% will make it law to call it
End of Summer Vacation Day (to ONLY be observed by the top 1% and NO EXCEPTIONS.
For everyone else it is observed as a Monday 12+ hour workday).-I'veBeenMowed-Comment
05/25/14:-sad_in_RTP-: Yes, of course do not disclose what company you'll
be joining when you quit IBM!! Is this even a question?? This should really
be common sense guys... There is absolutely no reason to mention ANYTHING about
your plans after you leave IBM. Who says you're going anywhere. When you quit
IBM, all you're announcing is your resignation from IBM; it's up to you when
you want to announce anything further, which should be well after you have any
involvement with IBM.
"For those of you leaving IBM. Do not disclose where you're going, they'll
try to pressure you to find out but hold your ground. There have been two instances
I'm aware of where management threatened to walk the employee our the door if
they didn't disclose where they were going. Hold your ground, it's your right
to privacy."-Anonymous-Comment
05/25/14:To -sad_in_RTP-: When I left IBM last year, I gave two
weeks notice but did not say where I was going. When pressed on that by my manager,
I told him I was going to an IBM Partner. And that was true. It was also true
that I was going to a major competitor of IBM's, but IBM does the "coopetition"
with the best of them. Before I left, I used all of my floating holidays for
the year (I left in January) and also used up my entire HSA for the year, although
I had only paid into it for a month. :-) -OuttaThere-Comment
05/25/14:@sad_in_RTP: I agree with standing firm on keeping your new employer
as private info, but isn't IBM allowed to walk you out the door anyway? I'm
getting close to this event myself. -also_in_RTP-Comment
05/24/14:-sad_in_RTP- BTW, I was RAed in the "big one" in 2009.
I got information that IBM's Wellness Assistance Program was no longer covering
Wellness office visits after my RA so my name was still on file and was still
in IBM's Wellness Program database. Since I am no longer an employee of IBM
and no longer will get ANY retirement health benefits; I asked to be taken off
the IBM Wellness Assistance Program list since it none of IBM's business to
know now. So now IBM knows my post-IBM Wellness issues like mental health and
chiropractic services since it was billed incorrectly to IBM as late as early
2012. It made me wonder whether IBM has a "dead peasant's life insurance"
policy on me! IBM no longer respect's employees or ex-employees privacy. IBM
will do whatever they can and say it is to "stay competitive" and
if that means finding out about it's (ex)resources whereabouts, happenings,
issues, etc. IBM will do it.-BigBlueBrother-Comment
05/24/14:Globalfoundries does not want Burlington. Its a dinosaur. They
would be better off tearing it all down and using the land for another 400,000
$ housing project for all those IBMers that will lose there jobs. The writing
is on the wall people. Get out of Chittenden county before your property value
drops 50% -Glad 2b gone-Comment
05/24/14:To -barely remember the place-, I worked in Endicott
Building 18 for several years. There were 12000 IBM employees.I Was RA when
Lou became CEO. Working now for another fantastic company. Visited Endicott
last Month. Once home of IBM is now just a shell of this once great company.
EFK is going the way of Endicott IBM. Those days are gone for ever, CEOs greed
and corruption have destroyed this once great company and its IBM families.
Join the union -ANA-Comment
05/24/14:New numbers show what's at stake if IBM sells Vt. plant.
News that IBM may sell its chipmaking operations, including the Essex Junction
plant, prompted the GBIC to dig deep into Big Blue's economic impact in Vermont.
"IBM has been an incredible economic contributor," Cioffi said.
GBIC estimates IBM employs about 4,000 people in Vermont. Its study shows that
10,000 families are directly or indirectly supported by IBM. The analysis reveals
the plant injects $1 billion into the overall Vermont economy. Losing that,
says Cioffi, would set Vermont's economy into a tailspin. "No economy could
sustain the loss of 4,000 jobs," Cioffi said. "It would be catastrophic.
It would shock us into a real estate recession and an economic recession worse
than the one we are trying to get out of now."http://www.wcax.com/story/25581457/new-numbers-show-whats-at-stake-if-ibm-sells-vt-plant
-VTAnon-Comment
05/24/14:For those of you leaving IBM. Do not disclose where you're going,
they'll try to pressure you to find out but hold your ground. There have been
two instances I'm aware of where management threatened to walk the employee
our the door if they didn't disclose where they were going. Hold your ground,
it's your right to privacy. -sad_in_RTP-Comment
05/24/14:I finally quit IBM in January after 8 years. However for 4 of
those years I was on mobilization orders with the US Army - some stateside &
some deployed overseas.
IBM was kind enough to offer a pay differential - the difference between my
salary & my military base pay. Once I came back from my deployment to Afghanistan,
IBM (in it's infinite wisdom) decided that I owed them over $38k in overpayments.
Of course they are hopelessly wrong but will they admit that? Nope! Will they
come to the table and discuss it? Nope!
I am giving them one more chance to recognize their mistakes on a phone call.
After that I just may have to approach the media as well as my military employer
representative to put additional outside pressure on them.
Just sick & wrong of IBM to err this boldly while a servicemember is called
to active duty! -Screwed_over_Soldier-Alliance reply: We are sorry for the way IBM disrespects
you and your service to our country. Thank you for your service.
Depending on the state you live in, your representative *may* be able to help
you "persuade" IBM to drop their pursuit of the $38k.
Notwithstanding the fact that you were an "At Will Employee" at IBM
and you had no collective bargaining agreement to protect your rights at work.
Please contact us at ibmunionalliance@gmail.com
for more information.Comment
05/23/14:I found a very eye-opening graphic listing the top 5 feeder schools
for several prominent American companies. Notice anything odd about IBM?http://www.slate.com/content/dam/slate/blogs/future_tense/2014/05/23/tech_company_feeder_schools_stanford_to_google_washington_to_microsoft_sjsu/wired_infographic_1.jpeg
-glad_2be_gone-Comment
05/23/14:IBM screws its own vendors, customers.http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-05-23/ibm-stops-selling-netapp-units-to-favor-own-storage-devices-1-.htmlIBM Stops Selling NetApp Units to Favor Own Storage Devices IBM
will stop buying and reselling storage technology from NetApp Inc. as part of
a plan to move customers to its own products.
IBM plans to formally withdraw from selling NetApp?s new N series systems on
May 27 and shut down development on the product line, according to an internal
memo reviewed by Bloomberg. Instead, the company will encourage clients to buy
IBM-made offerings, the memo said.IBM, seeking to reinvigorate slumping hardware sales,
has shifted its focus to newer technologies and product upgrades. The move is
poised to be a setback for NetApp, which gets about 2 percent of its revenue
from IBM, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. While NetApp has said that
its IBM relationship has presented challenges, it hasn't disclosed the reselling
shutdown.-Nony-Comment
05/23/14:Interesting article about IBM corruption. Rank and file are forced
to take BCG training instead of actual job training. Job training today is non-existent.
Time wasted on BCG training and other nonsense. I suppose executives are exempt
from BCG rules.http://www.itjungle.com/tfh/tfh051214-story04.html
-anon-Comment
05/23/14:To -I'mLeaving- .....do not worry they will make you
work right to the last minute. I recently quit and they worked me right up to
end of notice. Also they harassed me about a laptop that I had returned 4 years
previously and that started on second to last day. The final bit of harassment
was no final payslip so you have to guess if they agree with what vacation pay
etc that you are owed. I had to search for a HR phone number. When I called
about payslip and record of employment the IBM rep was less than courteous.You
will be treated as "nicely" as you are now right to the bitter end.
Just makes the company I am at now look that much better. I have gotten more
perks in a month than I got in 10 years at IBM. -former canuck ibmer-Comment
05/23/14:@SalesYouAreOuttaHere, Interesting. I wonder how Mills and LeBlanc
take into consideration the ongoing crisis meetings because of product quality,
product delivery slippage, inability to deliver Level 2 service because the
technical skills required have been RA'd or leaving on their own. Are they so
clueless? remote? or just acting as if nothing is wrong? -Anon-Comment
05/23/14:To-SlimPickens-, Maybe GPS customers
have gotten fed up with IBM doing unto them as IBM does to itself (GBS / IGA)?
As a former colleague once said with apologies to Ford, "IGS, Quality
is job None". -anonymous-Comment
05/23/14:A bit of history: Sammy went to an all women IBM recruiting drive
determined to get a job at IBM so he could avoid the USA draft for Vietnam.
He got the job in IBM and avoided the draft. That should tell you something
about eroding IBM "leadership" this Memorial Day. Remember and Thank
ALL Veterans that answered the call and did their duty instead of trying to
get out of it to pursue their own dreams and aims.-anonymous- Alliance reply: History can sting any American that
has marketed themselves as "special" to the patriotic American dream.
Patriotism and loyalty to America has especially been hijacked by corporate
executives (and even presidents) in the past decades, as a method to "own"
for their personal gain. America is an 'empire' run by corporate interests that
use the government to and for their own ends.
Sam Palmisano is not the first "self-appointed, important person"
to skip doing their REAL duty to their country, and he won't ever be the last.
The best advice here is to ignore his past and every other one like him, and
choose to be your own leader or lead with your co-workers and organize. You'll
still be able to appreciate and thank all the veterans for their service and,
if you are a veteran, be proud of your service to your country and to your co-workers.
You are the union, and you and your co-workers are the part of IBM that makes
the company what it is. You always have been. You are also the part that makes
America what it is. Real.Comment
05/23/14:Whenever I read about some Wall Street analyst casting doubts
on IBM's ability to survive or another analyst criticizing the strategies being
followed by IBM executives, I get a perverse feeling of joy. This would be understandable
if I were a competitor but I AM A CURRENT IBM EMPLOYEE! I hope I am alone in
feeling this way. If not, what does that say about IBM when its OWN employees
agree more with its detractors than its executives? -ReportReader-Comment
05/23/14:-I'mLeaving - It all depends but there's no obligation to give
them ANY notice, at least here in the land of the free. Whether you do or not
is up to you. They may take the two weeks, they may show you the door. I think
it depends on where you are going to. If a major competitor or you refuse to
say (and there's nothing says you have to tell them) then they may well show
you the door. If a smaller or non competing company then they may accept the
two weeks. I've seen both situations. Either way, good luck in the future.
-I'm Free-Comment
05/23/14:I held out for what I'm worth after being shown the door last
summer, now working in a fantastic environment. The futility of trying to champion
innovation in a shrine to cluelessness is a distant memory. So sad to hear of
the demise of EFK, where I joined IBM in an extremely cold stretch of winter
in early 1985, my first two weeks in a hotel near the corner of 52 and 376.
Fishkill was some 15,000 employees strong. I worked in the 300 Building, seemingly
a city unto itself. Surely the construction of the 600 complex signaled guaranteed
employment for longer than I could possibly live. But slowly it all slipped
away, one incompetent clown promoted into management after another. A decade
later, process and obedience trumped innovation and respect, the writing dripping
off the walls. Another decade and those of us with half a brain stood like deer
in headlights, in a perpetual state of not sure whether to laugh or to cry.
Goodbye, blue-blooded dream of an IBM of those days! -barely remember
the place-Comment
05/23/14:Summers, Nick. "The Trouble With IBM". Business Week,
May 22, 2014.http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-05-22/ibms-eps-target-unhelpful-amid-cloud-computing-challenges
Business Week article discusses problems with Roadmap 2015. -Gorya-Comment
05/23/14:If you have to try to sell of the blood (the chips) to Global
Foundries "GF" what makes up the heart (the mainframe) of a big computing
based company that IBM is not organically sound. This doesn't sound healthy
going forward as a mainframe company which IBM still essentially is. The mainframe
is what makes IBM unique no matter how IBM wants to portray itself as as a services
company which it is failing at. -anonymous-Comment
05/23/14:Trust your gut instinct guys and good luck, my instinct still
tells me IBM does not have a bright future. The IBM India Bharti Airtel subcontracting
fraud is shocking, highlights again the greed and ethics right at the very top."You can have tons of talent, but it won't necessarily keep you fed.
If you have sharp instincts, through, you'll never go hungry. Haruki Murakami,
1Q84 All the best to all." -RAed 2012 aged 41-Comment
05/22/14:Folks. The IBM that Ginni, Sammy and Lou operate in is totally
different than the one you cling to your miserable jobs in. For one they ALL
have contracts that define their pay, benefits and severance packages if they
are terminated. Second, no one can RA them. There is no reports to chain for
them. Just the board of directors who they have preloaded with their own people
to ensure they stay in power. Just like the *gerrymandering* most politicians
do to stay in power. Why do you waste time second guessing each other about
which way IBM is going to screw you next and secretly hope the company goes
bankrupt for making you miserable. Put that time and effort into organizing.
Then you will actually get something for your efforts besides frustrated. This
Memorial day remember the Veterans and others who gave their lives for your
freedom. Don't waste their efforts. -Exodus2007-Comment
05/22/14:http://www.businessinsider.com/ibm-ginni-rometty-and-2015-road-map-2014-5 IBM CEO Ginni Rometty Is A Year Away From Delivering On A Plan
That Has Tied Her Hands For YearsIn Palmisano's time, enterprises were curious but distrustful
of cloud computing. They didn't think it was as safe and reliable as doing IT
themselves. And back then, it wasn't.
Palmisano all but dismissed cloud computing during IBM's investor's day in 2010,
saying, "Enterprise will have its own unique model. You can't do what
we're doing in a cloud."
Flash forward to 2014 and cloud computing tech has matured, the risks are lower
and there are options for running every kind of software in the cloud, including
Oracle databases and SAP financial software. It's not clear why Rometty has
stuck with the promise rather than go her own way. Given IBM's culture, and
the long history of this promise, it isn't easy for her to ditch it. And now,
one year away, she's determined to fulfill it.-Anon-Comment
05/22/14:Not a positive outlook from this analyst."Whether IBM CEO Rometty recognizes it or not, the real cloud,
the one that really matters - the one that most of the world's compute function
will eventually run on is this: multi-tenant public cloud. In this all-important
market, IBM is not a player." ......http://seekingalpha.com/article/2233223-does-ibm-ceo-rometty-understand-cloud?uprof=46
-RAtired-Comment
05/22/14:The only thing inspiring thing about Sammy was he knew how to
lie to the IBM community. Sammy, Louie, and now Ginny are great liars to Wall
Street and the IBM employees. What IBM needs is a union to stop this greed and
corruption by these three CEOs. Join the union. -Stop the Lying
and Deceit-Comment
05/22/14:Spot on article, cudos to Businessweek, Wall St. about had enough...http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-05-22/ibms-eps-target-unhelpful-amid-cloud-computing-challenges
-misty-Comment
05/22/14:Just watched a new mandatory internal Steve Mills video that kept
emphasizing (quoted ver batim) "one of the things that I've been pressing
Bob on quite a bit is the idea that our technical people can effectively provide
much of the coverage that our sales specialists are called upon to provide".
He said we don't have to keep going in"two by two" with a sales and
technical person, we need to get down to a "one" model (as if we don't
always go in there with the "IBM Clown Car" of more like 12). Sounds
like a major cut is looming in the area of sales. Resonates with what was said
earlier about them wanting to fire mass sales people immediately around impact
(folks who haven't made their numbers). I'm technical, don't know how that would
work since many of us just don't have the polish that sales folks do. He said
he wanted tech folks to start dedicating one day a week to call on accounts
that have no IBM stuff currently. -SalesYouAreOuttaHere-Comment
05/22/14:At long last I have found another opportunity away from IBM. The
last round of cuts was a signal that IBM is no longer interested in the HW business.
Anyone know if when I give my 2 weeks notice whether they will show me the door
immediately or have me finish it out? I am Technical Sales specialist so my
assumption is they won't want me involved in anything once they know I intend
to leave. -I'mLeaving-Comment
05/22/14:Does IBM CEO Rometty Understand Cloud?IBM seems to be trying to redefine everything that SoftLayer does
as cloud, although SoftLayer's business is almost all dedicated hosting (bare
metal, sold month-to-month), not cloud IaaS in the usual sense of the word.
There's abundant confusion as a result. Whether IBM CEO Rometty recognizes it
or not, the real cloud, the one that really matters - the one that most of the
world's compute function will eventually run on is this: multi-tenant public
cloud. In this all-important market, IBM is not a player.http://seekingalpha.com/article/2233223-does-ibm-ceo-rometty-understand-cloud
-anon-Comment
05/22/14:Another damning article on IBM (Ginni) "The Trouble With
IBM" From Bloomberg BusinessWeek.http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-05-22/ibms-eps-target-unhelpful-amid-cloud-computing-challenges
-anon-Comment
05/22/14:Worth the read:http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-05-22/ibms-eps-target-unhelpful-amid-cloud-computing-challenges
-miss_understanding-Comment
05/22/14:IBM announced that on July 1st 2014 Global Process Services (GPS)
will integrate with Global Business Services (GBS) group. Expect lots of reorganizational
synergies and redundancies (ie. RA's). -SlimPickens-Comment
05/22/14:Speaking of Lenovo.https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/business/technology/a/23716433/Lenovo CEO hopes U.S.-China cyber-theft case will not affect
IBM, Motorola deal approval-Nonymous-Comment
05/22/14:Harvard Business Review just came out wtih an interesting set
of articles. One of those articles, "The Price of Wall Street's Power" and "Managing Investors,"
which is an uninspiring interview with Sam Palmisano. He explains why IBM should
have such high earnings per share. Frankly, it wasn't convincing. Maybe it makes
sense when the company has lots of spare cash, but cannibalizing oneself to
meet unreasonable targets is a very different rationale. Plus, it is hard to
see how high end semiconductor development can fall into the commodity category.
If that was the case, IBM should be able to find a buyer for the microelectronics
business. -coupon-Comment
05/21/14:Word on the street in Essex (BTV) is that FAB sale will be in
July to GF. -Vermont Woodchuck-Comment
05/21/14: A little food for thought for my 7,499 soon to be "Red"
colleagues, from people who have already been there and done that."At the risk of sounding xenophobic, Lenovo is a Chinese company and
every year more and more of the U.S. based functions (and jobs) are shifted
to China. If you are seeking a role at Lenovo outside of China it would be best
to land a Geography specific role, but also realize this will limit career growth." "A few years ago, I would've said this was the best place to work.
Now, there is too much uncertainty and too much change (without a clear change
management process in place). 2 rounds of layoffs this year (2013) with rumors
of more at the beginning of the year. People are jumping ship. There is only
a retention plan for Executives, nothing for managers or individual contributors.
No career advancement - they would rather hire externally to quickly fill a
gap." There's more where that came from, visit Glassdoor.com if you're
not high on the Kool-Aid.-GutterOil-Comment
05/21/14:For those IBMers headed to Lenovo on or about Aug. 1 as part of
the x86/Pure Flex divestiture, here's some encouraging news:http://finance.yahoo.com/news/top-pc-maker-lenovo-posts-29-jump-annual-085921336.html Imagine that -- a tech company that grows revenue. For the record,
growth is not just in China but globally. -x86 in RTP-Comment
05/21/14:A classic quote by one of our major shareholders, Mr, Warren Buffet;
this is a classic: "I try to buy stock in businesses that are so wonderful that an idiot
can run them. Because sooner or later, one will". -Warren Buffet,
Source: At a panel discussion after the premier of the documentary "I.O.U.S.A"
(2008) -sittingandwaiting-Comment
05/21/14:Don't Expect Another Earnings-Per-Share Target From IBM.http://seekingalpha.com/article/2229713-dont-expect-another-earnings-per-share-target-from-ibm-Anon-Comment
05/21/14:@thisisoneway - do you even understand the IBM NZ fiscal calendar?
This just adds yet another negative, uninformed and non-productive post to this
page. Alliance, please do a better job filtering these -anonymous-Comment
05/21/14:I was a dues paying member of the Alliance. I paid because it
provides tremendous value and insight into an environment where managers exploit
employees at _ALL_ levels. I've moved to a new employer, and it's a shame how
one discovers that respect, compensation, and benefits are much better on the
outside. I encourage all of you to interview and apply elsewhere. You owe it
to yourself, your family, and your career. Best of luck to all those who remain
behind and ignore the warnings. -Me-Comment
05/20/14:There is zero chance of this company turning around with the amount
of unhappy people in the company. It just is not enough to say "you are
lucky enough to have a job". Works in the third world, not the first world.
- Anon-Comment
05/20/14:email sent 15 May:"-Hi Team - further to Andrew Stevens email 2 April 'Our growth
initiative enablement roadmap', the call to action is for each IBMer to make
a fast start and dedicate 10 hours of Think40 in 1Q (before June 30th) to this
new curriculum."That is one way to meet Qtrly targets - re-define the calendar :-)
- this is one way -Comment
05/20/14:"IBM is asking for 250 people to take a bus every Monday to GF
from EF."And the employees will be paying for the commutation. And it will
be a bus with a bad heater core or no A/C and they'll feel every pothole and
bump past the Albany politico cesspool that made this all possible.-I'veBeenMoved?-Comment
05/19/14:IBM buys startup to give Watson "depth of personality"
IBM has bought Cognea, a startup developing virtual assistants that interact
with users via A.I.-based personalities. Terms are undisclosed.
Big Blue plans to integrate Cognea's technology with its Watson A.I. hardware/software,
with the goal of allowing Watson to deliver "conversational services."
Potential end-markets mentioned by the company include "virtual personal
assistants, health coaches, companions for elderly people, investment advisors,
tutors, travel agents, customer care agents and shopping advisors."
IBM, hungry to halt double-digit server revenue declines, promised to invest
over $1B in Watson in January, including $100M in startups working on software/services
for Watson systems. But while the company is hoping Watson produces $10B/year
in revenue in ten years, the platform had only produced $100M in revenue as
of last October. -Anon-Comment
05/19/14:Saw this on this cwa-union.org website. I wondered whether any
IBMers had ever been subjected to this kind of pressure from their management?
"What Happened In The Basement?"http://action.cwa-union.org/c/312/p/salsa/web/common/public/content?content_item_KEY=12008
-BlueEyedBlindness-Comment
05/19/14:
http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/story/news/2014/05/16/ibmers-shift-globalfoundries-saratoga/9187877/
IBMers to work for GlobalFoundries: Prelude to a sale?
-Nonymous-Comment
05/19/14:For those of you contemplating or chosen to work in the GF Malta
plant, you will be right at home as though it were IBM EF itself. Read the Glassdoor
reviews on GF especially those specific to Malta. Don't expect things to get
better, but continue to expect more lousy treatment. Wow, I am so glad I'm not
in the technology industry anymore. I can't imagine how many of you sleep well
at night wondering when the ax will fall. -*Glad_to_be_Gone_too*-Comment
05/19/14:IBM is asking for 250 people to take a bus every Monday to GF
from EF. Work all week and return Friday, for 10 months! All just to get the
tax break from the state. Talk about a "work-life" balance plan. I
hope all the EF people have the guts to say NO to this crap. -anon-Comment
05/19/14:This statement from Ginni is disturbing and disheartening -
"If you are uncomfortable with what's going on now in IBM, that's how I
want you to stay."This is not how you motivate people. It reminds me of what John Akers said
in his desperate last months,
"I don't want to see people standing around the water cooler." You know what, Ginni, I'd like to provide value to the IBM company, but
you won't let me. You're too busy moving work overseas where you can threaten
and abuse employees without constraints. So, you say if I'm not working on cloud,
data, or engagement, I'm working on the wrong things? Well, please help me work
on the right things me by making it easier to transfer out of this cesspool
of GBS IGA despair. -Anon-Comment
05/19/14:http://seekingalpha.com/article/2226213-ibm-shows-robust-growth-in-cloud-does-it-matterIBM Shows Robust Growth In Cloud: Does It Matter?
IBM continues to show strong growth in cloud revenues after spending billions
on developing its cloud offerings.
However, the company has a lot of work to do before this starts having any impact
on its top line growth.
IBM has touted two major cloud deals, but these might not have any meaningful
impact on the growth of its cloud revenues.-Anon-Comment
05/19/14:"With every news story that comes out of India and Central and
West Africa, what sort of company have we become when the CEO thinks that we
can depend on them to pull us around."The strategy is smart when you consider what is happening there is a 20-year
view. Central/West Africa corporations on Cloud is a sweet spot for this type
of GEO. The results are disruptive for sure. The delivery approach IBM is taking
is horrible. The organization change is infantile.-Anonymous-Comment
05/18/14:IBM EFK: Going, Going.... soon gone. Sad. Very Sad. Way to not
go IBM.Big Blew. Big Blow.-Dutchess_distressed-Comment
05/17/14:GF will probably just use the BTV and EFK sites to store toxic
waste that they can't get away with dumping in Malta. -Anonymous-Comment
05/17/14:The one paragraph in todays Poughkeepsie Journal that is all you
need to know: "IBM is going to be using GlobalFoundries in Malta as a foundry going
forward," said G. Dan Hutcheson of VLSI Research in San Jose, Calif.,
"and the Fishkill facility is getting long in the tooth. It's now become
a fairly old fab. Fabs don't last forever. They do begin to age."
The East Fishkill site is toast. All work going to GF in Malta. GF not taking
East Fishkill. -The End is near-Comment
05/17/14:With every news story that comes out of India and Central and
West Africa, what sort of company have we become when the CEO thinks that we
can depend on them to pull us around. It is a desperate, last roll of the dice,
attemtp to save herself. Thankfully Wall Street is as tired of her rhetoric
as are the rest of us. -Anon-Comment
05/17/14:Boeing conducted unfair practices against U.S. engineers says
NLRB:http://finance.yahoo.com/news/boeing-conducted-unfair-practices-against-u-engineers-labor-011336228--sector.html
-Alwyn Scott-Comment
05/17/14:Why You Don't Want to Own IBM:"In the case of IBM, looking beyond the short-term trees at the
long-term forest should give investors little faith in the CEO or the company's
future growth prospects. Much is being hidden in the morass of financial machinations
surrounding acquisitions, divestitures, debt assumption and stock buybacks.
Meanwhile, revenues are declining, and investments in R&D are falling. This
cannot bode well for the company's long-term investor prospects, regardless
of the well scripted talking points offered last week."
http://www.forbes.com/sites/adamhartung/2014/05/16/why-you-dont-want-to-own-ibm/
-Adam Hartung-Comment
05/16/14:http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/story/news/2014/05/16/ibmers-shift-globalfoundries-saratoga/9187877/150 IBMERS TO BE SHIFTED UPSTATE TO GLOBALFOUNDRIES
WICCOPEE - About 150 to 200 IBM technical employees based at the semiconductor
plant here will be dispatched to work at a partner company, GlobalFoundries,
at its growing plant in Saratoga County, the Poughkeepsie Journal has exclusively
learned. -Anon-Comment
05/16/14:-Old Farts- Yep, but why is she so bitter or may I say disgruntled?
She might be part of the old club, but she gets full retirement medical for
life, executive pension, 401(k), bonuses, top hat SERP, office for life, travel
for life, etc. etc. all paid for by IBM mostly as unfunded benefits. We other
old farts don't get a smidgen of that. Maybe she is truly DISTRACTED by lack
of revenue growth? LOL! -IrritableBowelMovement-Comment
05/16/14: "If you are uncomfortable with what's going on now in IBM, that's
how I want you to stay." Is Ginni crazy or just heartless? This is
what a slave owner used to say to their property.-anonymous-Comment
05/16/14:CEO's lying to themselves. Does this sound familiar?http://www.theblaze.com/blog/2014/05/15/a-lesson-from-silicon-valley-on-honesty-relevant-for-you-and-your-family/
-Anonymous-Comment
05/15/14:ANA: She had a very hostile attitude and was very very bitter toward
older IBMers.<=== Why was she bitter towards older
IBMers? Since she is 56 yrs old, she's part of the club. what's she complaining
about? -Old Farts-Comment
05/15/14:Can an Employee Accept a Severance Payment and Still File a Discrimination
Claim?http://www.hr-headaches.com/2014/05/06/can-an-employee-accept-a-severance-payment-and-still-file-a-discrimination-claim/
-David Barron-Comment
05/15/14:Former IBM'er here - regarding CLAIM, I also remember getting
strange emails about hours being claimed in my name on projects and clients
where I did absolutely no work. I didn't claim the hours myself I just got notified
of these claims. I then asked my boss about it and he gave me some strange explanation
that "these are just maintenance hours to a customer, don't worry about
that" or something like that. I always thought it was strange but I have
no proof that anything was wrong.
On the other hand, I know that for a month or so they charged a client as if
I was working full time on the account when I was working only half-time, but
that was to cover up the fact I was only working half-time since I had been
assigned to a different account also and things were so political and tense
it was impossible to back out of either engagement. Of course I got no overtime
despite doing twice the work! -Anon-Comment
05/15/14:Another IBM botch up:Don't blame SAP,
blame npower and particularly IBM Global Services.
They must hold the record for the most botched implementations in the industry.
SAP works. Yes, it can be clunky and awkward at times, but it does work. In
the hands of a good implementation team and the proper support, SAP can sing
like a bird. There used to be a saying that 'no one ever got fired for hiring
IBM'. Lately, that alone should be grounds for termination.http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/05/13/npower_sap_customer_system_failure/
-Foo-Comment
05/15/14:IBM sets sights on restoring hardware unit after Q4 slump Summary:
IBM's new businesses aren't growing fast enough to offset its hardware unit,
but the firm's chief executive is betting on China as a major growth opportunity.http://www.zdnet.com/ibm-sets-sights-on-restoring-hardware-unit-after-q4-slump-7000029489/-anonymous-Comment
05/15/14:IBM reaffirms ambitious $20 EPS goal ? but no one but IBM seems
to carehttp://gigaom.com/2014/05/15/ibm-reaffirms-ambitious-20-eps-goal-but-no-one-but-ibm-seems-to-care/
IBM is hell-bent on achieving its promised earnings per share goal by next year.
Analysts aren?t sure why it bothers."I agree with analysts like Bernstein Research?s Toni Sacconaghi who
say the $20 EPS goal is more public relations than substance if profit comes
from lower tax rates, layoffs and stock buybacks. IBM still has to convince
the world that it can do cloud as well as, or better than Amazon, Microsoft,
and a raft of other competitors." -Nonymous-Comment
05/15/14:
In the middle of the second quarter, one of the IBM AMS leaders simply decided
to command the entire IBM AMS IT army to go forth with an overall utilization
target of 131% for the entire Q2.
IBM continues to try to meet their goals by specializing in financial engineering,
commanding thousands of employees to simply start billing their customers 55
hours per week for the remaining two months of the quarter to achieve that overall
131% Q2 utilization. Don't you think if the work was already there, we would
already be doing it in a planned fashion?
This doesn't get nearly enough attention...salaried workers in the trenches
are disgusted,suspect lots of fraud happening to meet billing targets, and the
great unsaid - crazy forced, billed 'overtime', but of course that word is never
used.
Utilization targets..."if you don't meet them, may lead to executives
re-evaluating headcount".-Phil-Comment
05/15/14:My reluctance to accept IBM's current trajectory to 'glory' is
primarily because of my opinion and beliefs as follows:1. Its long established culture and beliefs are ignored. Its beliefs
and by extension its culture was based on:
A. Respect for the Individual.
B. The best customer service in the world.
C. The pursuit of excellence.
As long as this is being ignored you cannot succeed. In an age of iPads and
gizmos, its hard to convince people of intangible things such as justice and
fair play and culture.

2. IBM's culture that made it successful in past years has eroded away since
it buys and integrates so many companies at a break neck pace and brings in
people that are not compatible with its culture or beliefs that have since eroded
away - much like Rome integrating barbaric cultures of the north. Haphazard
integration of PWC and its foreign culture was the first mistake - and the beginning
of the end of its culture.

3. Current management is more focused on cloud and flashy gizmos
than actually fixing its sick culture.

4. Management lacks the the type of powerful vision to lead the way the Watsons
had done in years past. For what they are paid, they are mediocre at best. I
say this because they seem to be chasing markets verses creating them and leading
much like TJ Watson Jr. and the S/360 or like Steve Jobs. Current IBM leaders
seem to be more reactionary and seem to be chasing whatever bubbles to the top
today - and badly that. These are simply my opinions.http://seekingalpha.com/article/2181363-ibms-culture-is-its-best-long-term-investment-metric
-Anonymous-Comment
05/15/14:Wall street is not buying IBM's hype.http://blogs.barrons.com/techtraderdaily/2014/05/14/ibm-slips-reiterating-20-eps-target-competition-cash-flow-in-focus
-anon-Comment
05/15/14:India key in IBM revival, says CEO Virginia M Rometty to staffBANGALORE: Virginia Marie "Ginni" Rometty, IBM's chief
executive officer, conveyed a message of tough love to employees in India during
a low profile visit to Bangalore last week. Rometty, 56, who is trying to win
over Wall Street's sceptical investors about her efforts to reinvigorate the
$100-billion company, spoke about India's rising importance as she implements
her gameplan, employees who heard her said."If you are uncomfortable with what's going on now in IBM, that's how
I want you to stay. That's the only way we will transform this company together,"
an employee recounted her as saying.http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/ites/india-key-in-ibm-revival-says-ceo-virginia-m-rometty-to-staff/articleshow/35134616.cms
-Anon-Comment
05/14/14:I resigned! I would suggest to all the IBMers that can, should.
IBM is a huge machine and nothing we have done seems to make a difference. I
was in Sales, could have continued working here as long as I kept selling. I
could not look a customer in the eye and"sell" them on IBM. Software
and Services are great, but the company is horrible to their employees. Unionization
is another avenue to pursue, but that is slow is progressing. However you choose
to go forward, do it now and do it big. The only way to impact the top leadership
is to make them work. No worker bees someone is going to have to step up.
-Concerned IBMer- now EX IBMer-Comment
05/14/14:http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-05-14/ibm-says-tech-shift-impact-similar-to-financial-crisis.htmlIBM Says Tech-Shift Impact Similar to Financial Crisis-Nonymous-Comment
05/14/14:
SERIOUSLY?http://www.businessinsider.com/ibm-revenue-growth-2014-5"IBM CEO: Revenue 'Is Not The No. 1 Priority On My List' "
There's been a lot of hand-wringing over the shrinking revenues at IBM. But
CEO Ginni Rometty wants investors to know that reduced revenue is really part
of her grand plan to grow profits.-anon-Comment
05/14/14:I was cut from IBM Rochester MN in 2003. I have been working for
a insurance company for the last 12 years in Minneapolis MN where they treat
everyone like a person and pay way more then IBM. I just found out IBM is trying
to get money from our company by claiming we misused licence agreements by more
than 15 million dollars. We disproved their claims and paid them nothing. This
was such a sick desperate attempt to get money from us.... so glad I do not
work for such a evil sick company/management people anymore. -Roger-Comment
05/14/14:http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2014/05/14/the-dow-takes-a-breather-as-ibm-takes-a-dive.aspxThe Dow Takes a Breather as IBM Takes a Dive
So far, the market has reacted negatively to the statements, sending IBM down.
The likely reason? The presentation has been light on specific reasons for optimism,
and heavy on things we already know. The big picture strategy makes perfect
sense in speeches and press releases. We've all read the SEC filings, listened
to the interviews, and understand the plan.
What investors want to see now is tangible results. How are IBM's customer's
responding to the new cloud technology products? Will Watson, IBM's famous supercomputer,
ever achieve enough scale to move the revenue needle in a meaningful way? When
will the company start to grow again?
The executives presenting today have their finger on the pulse of the company.
Investors want to feel a strong, healthy heartbeat when Rometty speaks. And
as of yet, that hasn't happened.-Anon-Comment
05/14/14:This video link is not about IBM. But it IS about a company (Nokia)
that has begun to shed workers in India for a variety of reasons. One of the
most interesting things about this video, are the "almost free land"
and 'public utility status' that Nokia got from the Indian government as well
as other *incentives* to move their operations to India, in 2005. These *incentives*
are similar to what IBM was given. Now, the Indian workers are feeling the effects
of offshoring and plants shutting down. Sound familiar IBMers? IBM is on the
lookout for cheap labor and *incentives* from countries that will allow their
workers to be exploited, too. IBM has also fired IBM India workers.
The workers of the world need to unite. IBM workers of the world need to unite.
The video is lengthy but it's worth watching:http://t.co/7mNx18HusO
-BlueEyedBlindness-Comment
05/14/14:To -15yrsandcounting-: We were called to a conference
room years ago and the manager told us we had to claim 15% OT every week on
our account, no matter what, and if we didn't do it, it was going to cause us
a lot of problems, so just make it happen. It came back to bite them in the
AZZ soon after when the OT lawsuit was settled and I got my check, hahahahahah.
-Gone_in_07-Comment
05/14/14:Anyone else notice who was noticeably absent from the Z anniversary?
Some of our biggest customers were there, but little-ms-Ginny couldn't even
be bothered to make a 5 minute video. There's a pretty clear message for you
Z folks. Never mind that you've been keeping the bottom line black. :-(
-waiting_my_turn-Comment
05/14/14:-Sharon-: Us peons have no visibility to upcoming announcements...
I always wondered about these leaks about upcoming announcements... It had to
be mgt, a girlfriend/boyfriend of a manager, or the support staff. Which is
it? -Not me-Comment
05/13/14:I saw Ginny's interview on CNBC this morning. She had a very hostile
attitude and was very very bitter toward older IBMers. Expect more RAs for the
older workers She said that the bottom line revenue interview for each quarter
was as important as satisfied customers. That is why RAs continue at IBM to
make the numbers every quarter. Theses CEOs Lou, Sam And Ginny are all about
bonuses and stock options and don't give a damn about IBMers. IBM needs an employees
union. -ANA-Comment
05/13/14:Ginni, your customers don't share your vision.http://www.crn.com.au/News/385366,ibm-dont-compare-softlayer-to-amazon-web-services.aspxIBM: don't compare SoftLayer to Amazon Web Services. Far different
to rival AWS, argues IBM.
Some questioned the high price of the Softlayer deal when it was announced in
June. SoftLayer had revenue of US$400 million a year when IBM acquired the company
from GI Partners, a private equity fund based in Menlo Park, Calif.
A CEO for an IBM Premier partner, who did not want to be identified, said he
is skeptical of the SoftLayer cloud infrastructure offering. He said his Fortune
500 customers are not willing to risk their business in a public cloud environment
such as SoftLayer."It's too big a gamble," said the CEO. "If their
systems go down, it could cost them $1 million USD a day. They would rather
have their own data center, man it themselves and pay their own electric bill."
-Anon-Comment
05/13/14:
http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/203c87e4-da86-11e3-a448-00144feabdc0.htmlGinni Rometty, IBM chief executive, says the group is reinventing
itself but Wall Street is growing impatient-Anon-Comment
05/13/14:Ginny doing the road show trying smoke and mirrors at the NYT
and today on CNBC. When asked by David Faber today if IBM is done with divestitures
after the Lenovo deal Ginny responds:ROMETTY:"I would say-- I would always
answer never, I mean, because it's continuous transformation. If I have learned
anything in my decades with this company, it's constantly changing this company
for the future. That's what I'm here for." Only way she is going to make $20/share by 2015 is to joint venture
and dump Microelectronics Division.-MORE
DIVESTITURES-Comment
05/13/14:You Want IBM's Cloud? You'll Have to Pay for Watson First. The
question is how much of IBM's proprietary advantage is real, and how much is
a sales pitch? Like rival Meg Whitman of Hewlett-Packard (HPQ_), Rometty says
her company is "poised for growth" but based on Watson's promise rather
than the mainstream of cloud.-anonymous-Comment
05/13/14:IBM/Softlayer Scores Another Massive Hybrid Cloud Deal. Or Does
It? Devastating commentary on IBM's PR machine from Forbes.http://www.forbes.com/sites/benkepes/2014/05/13/ibmsoftlayer-scores-another-massive-hybrid-cloud-deal/-Anon-Comment
05/13/14:-Steven Pearlstein-Yep! When do the IBM executives
and insiders buy IBM shares on open market with their OWN MONEY? Like go to
a stock broker and say buy me 10,000 shares IBM common and here is my personal
check or hard cash for the buy? They get $0 option stock grants and only use
their own funds to purchase these options if they make $$$ otherwise they forfeit
those options and get another batch of the $0 stock candy.http://finance.yahoo.com/q/it?s=IBM+Insider+Transactions-anonymous-Comment
05/13/14:Big Blew makes it harder to sue....http://blogs.marketwatch.com/encore/2014/05/12/how-ibm-made-it-harder-to-sue-big-blue/
-anonymous-Comment
05/13/14:
IBM continues R/A due to age discrimination . If you are over 49 IBM will find
a way to get rid of you. All of this started under three figure Lou. I am a
third generation IBMer my grandfather had 27 years my father had 32 years and
I retired from IBM with 27 years of service. Growing up in Endicott New York,
it was a great place to live and work until Lou became CEO. He destroyed my
home town and a lot of IBMer lives. IBM needs a union contract to protect the
IBM employees of today. Join the union. -ANA-Comment
05/13/14:On the Bloomberg story:
"Under the old approach, fired employees could either accept severance
pay and waive their right to bring an age discrimination claim, or reject the
severance offer and preserve the right to pursue legal action. Now, IBM doesn't
have to disclose the age and titles of coworkers in a group layoff because it's
no longer asking fired employees to waive legal action, since it's offering
arbitration in such cases, Bloomberg reported." <=== IBM didn't disclose the data during the 3/31/14 layoffs... so
we got no arbitration and no list. Actually, why would anyone really care about
the title of the laid off employees? I just want to see the ages to see if the
majority of the people are 40+. I couldn't care less about their titles.
-Say what?-Comment
05/13/14:To IBM$uck$ - 20 years ago I started as a secretary to
upper level and though this is a forum on job cuts it ties in. Whenever there
was a "anonymous complaint" or negative feedback on surveys... the
managers would gather and figure out exactly who "anonymous" was....
and that person would be targeted ! I left years ago but my husband still works
there.. can't wait for him to leave. -Sharon-
Alliance reply: All the more reason to join the Alliance and work with a group
of members instead of doing it on your own.Comment
05/13/14:The Supreme Court saddles up for an attack on retiree benefits:http://www.latimes.com/business/hiltzik/la-fi-mh-retiree-benefits-20140512-column.html
-Michael Hiltzik-Comment
05/13/14:Revenue Growth: What Has Happened To IBM's Sales Culture?http://seekingalpha.com/article/2212863-revenue-growth-what-has-happened-to-ibms-sales-culture
-anonymous-Comment
05/13/14:Troubling pattern at IBM. Nice to know you all work at a company
that overtly breaks the laws as it discriminates - it seems. Nice to know IBM
employees have a backbone and fight to stop it - not.http://blog.aarp.org/2014/05/12/ibm-halts-practice-of-disclosing-fired-older-workers/
-anon-Comment
05/12/14:-miss_understanding- Yes, a big HMMM!IBM is more disrespectful
to workers and dares them to challenge why they have stopped AGE disclosure
in RAs. Sure it is AGE DISCRIMINATION and IBM knows it. But IBM knows the employees
are worse than the dumbest of sheep: they don't even know how to flock to try
to protect themselves.
That Doug Shelton: what does he look like? Is he WATSON? Says same things ALL
THE TIME like a warped skipping 12 inch vinyl record."IBM has stopped disclosing age data in resource action to protect
(ex)employee privacy"
WTF? When did IBM care about IBM privacy since getting rid of RESPECT FOR THE
INDIVIDUAL as an IBM pillar belief?
Oh, about the IBM Open Door process being fair?!? LOL!!!! It's an IBM HR device;
not a process.
Everyone I knew who used the IBM Open Door "arbitration" process had
that door slam or hit them, on the way out!-IBM$uck$-Comment
05/12/14:Not sure how many other ways we can say this... let me try saying
it more loudly instead. IF YOU POST FALSE BILLING INFORMATION IN CLAIM, *YOU*
ARE LIABLE. -15yrsandcounting-Comment
05/12/14:
@Anonymous - Contract CLAIM. Unless you can directly relate your CLAIM
billing to invoice, you're making an assumption on the relationship between
your time and the bill which could be wrong. Your activities are for internal
project cost accounting. Without proof of how your CLAIM is measured into dollars,
I wouldn't say anything to the client. There are often times a lot of things
rolled into an invoice before the clients sees it. There can be give back in
labor (no-charge T&M), there can be billing breaks on volume labor. To assume
that everything that is CLAIMED is straight line billed is not wise. You need
more information on the invoicing side or you need to give us that information
in order for a more-informed opinion. -Ed-Comment
05/12/14:Things that make you go HMMM:http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-05-12/old-fired-at-ibm-trendsetter-offers-workers-arbitration.html
-miss_understanding-Comment
05/12/14:The IBM CLAIM process is just as rigged and unethical as the IBM
PBC process. IBM management uses it for it's own agendas and corrupt goals.
-da_facts-Comment
05/12/14:IBM Poised for Growth, Chief Says:http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/12/technology/ibm-poised-for-growth-chief-says.html
-Anon-Comment
05/12/14:Unioneer is right - my manager told me to increase my utilization
to 128%, but he did NOT tell me to falsify anything. I just know for a fact
that productivity in those extra hours is irrelevant. Nobody cares about that.
It's all about billing the hours. -A-Comment
05/11/14:Corporations can't stop gobbling up their own stock:http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/corporations-cant-stop-gobbling-up-their-own-stock/2014/05/09/83c8ddb0-d6e6-11e3-aae8-c2d44bd79778_story.html
-Steven Pearlstein-Comment
05/11/14:I'm an IBM contractor, on their AT&T account. Month after
month, we are given a list of CLAIM project numbers and percentages to which
to charge our time. The projects are often ones we have nothing to do with.
Then, every month, we are asked to go in and change those numbers - always to
*different* projects we have nothing to do with. I have records of all these
requests, in order to protect myself. My question: Should I blow the whistle
to the client? This all smells like possible fraud to me. Thanks.
-Anonymous-Comment
05/10/14:Claim is your own responsibility if you are not putting in correct
hours then your the one in the dock not your FLM ...get real here you not in
school I was asked why I was flat recording 37 hours PW and I replied by saying
that's what's on my contract nothing more nothing less bye bye I never heard
of them again,Use Them as much as they abuse you rake no crap -Band
6-Comment
05/10/14:-RAtirement- Re: Freedom of Information request.. To what end?
What would it accomplish to know 10, 10000 or 10 Million have been filed? Not
busting on you, I just don't understand why anyone would care. The government
cannot regulate how IBM treats "At Will Employees". That's why we
need a contract. No one else but we the employees can affect this situation.
Waiting for management to have a change of heart sure won't work. Waiting for
IBM employees to grow a pair figuratively speaking has not worked in 15 years
. The only bright side is the more of us they get rid of the less number wise
it takes to reach 51 percent.-Exodus2007-Comment
05/09/14:Falsification of CLAIM or any business records. You sign it, YOU
are the one responsible, YOU will take the fall for it. If you have any hard
copy documentation being told to falsify or alter records keep copies. IBM will
point the finger at you, take legal action against you! Regarding IGA billing,
it may be "blue money", but it still comes out of a department, division
budget which is funded by real money. There used to be a tool where one could
view burden rate costs. That being the cost incurred by IBM for supplying services
per employee. It was identified at one time that IGS was billing $500 per employee
per month to support a Notes ID. The tool since disappeared. -Anon-Comment
05/09/14:About the situation where an IBM Global Account employee ("anon")
was being told to show higher 128% utilization. I hope you guys are not naive
enough to believe that a manager would have ever told him in writing that he
has to knowingly submit inaccurate claims. No manager would have told him that
he can take a vacation day and still claim that as working day. All the employee
was told was that he needs to up his utilization to 128% and he needs to do
whatever he can to get there. If that means working during a planned vacation
day, so be it. -Unioneer-Comment
05/09/14:Has anyone ever submitted a Freedom of Information request to
the EEOC to determine how many discrimination complaints have been filed against
IBM? -RAtirement-Comment
05/09/14:There was a special edition of Think Magazine that was published
September 1989 commemorating the 75 year anniversary of IBM.I found it stashed
away in a box in a closet today. It saddened me greatly to read this magazine
and remember how great a company IBM was once to work for. Page 8 listed IBM's
Basic Beliefs:
1) Respect for the Individual.
2) The best customer service in the world.
3) The pursuit of excellence.
Watson Jr on page 78 said "And the final and most important lesson: A corporation's
beliefs must always come before policies, practices and goals. The latter must
always be altered if they violate fundamental beliefs." How far IBM has
fallen in 25 years -longtimebeemer-
Alliance reply: If the IBM employees in the US had stepped up 15 years ago,
and decided to organize then, it's probable that things would be different today.
This can STILL happen. It still depends on the IBM workers' unifying and standing
up for the beliefs that the Watsons tried to continue to instill throughout
the company. Organize and join together. Join the Alliance and let's get to
work at uniting IBM US workers and returning to the fundamental beliefs that
TJ Watson held above "policies, practices, and goals".Comment
05/08/14:To -Anon- who was asked to reach 128% utilization (53 hours
per week, even if on vacation) in IBM Global Business Services "on the
IBM account" and said: "The question is why this CLAIM increase benefits
IBM's quarterly results when it is blue money?"The answer is it won't increase IBM's overall quarterly results, yet it
will pad GBS's pockets. Your managementteam in GBS on the IBM internal account
have their own internal billing targets that they are supposed to meet. So they
are willing to have GBS employees submit falsified CLAIMs (reporting and billing
time NOT worked on internal projects as if it was). This falsified reporting
won't impact IBM's overall bottom line, however, it does negatively impact the
IBM divisions being falsely "billed" while padding GBS' pockets since
internal funds will flow from these divisions to GBS. When these managers/execs
get promoted it will be further evidence that IBM's own internal measurement
systems foster and reward unethical behavior.-RAd
in 2009-Comment
05/08/14:-Screwed- 40 years old the cutoff. Why? So IBM can avoid age discrimination
implications. Of course it was discrimination. Ask respected actuary Andy Lang.
He'll tell ya. I suggest the take into account age and years of service like
if you are 39 years old with 16 years old you are treated like the 40 year old
with 15 years of service. And the extreme case of having 21 years of IBM employment
and being 38+ years old. IBM HR told me "..gee, well maybe it was considered,
but what is done is now done..move on" and I said "yeah, like spilt
milk!-sby_willie-Comment
05/08/14:IBM has been RA older workers for younger workers ever since LOu
was CEO. He was a master at age discrimination. He was the one who destroyed
the older workers careers. IBM employee needs a union contract to stop this
destruction of older workers. Join the union. -ANA-Comment
05/08/14:Re: CLAIM. If you are asked to put information into the system
that is not reflecting your true working hours, you need to ask your manager
if they are asking you to falsify company records. That will usually get them
to back off, but it will also ensure that the target is on your back.
-Stepping Stone-Comment
05/08/14:I heard from a 2nd line today that just before and during Impact,
execs in SWG sales passed the word that cuts would have to be made, and anyone
that is not making their numbers should be fired immediately. There was some
pushback from managers, who wanted a chance to be able to lobby for anyone that
had extenuating circumstances, so there is a reprieve/delay. The message was
that results at the corporate level cannot sustain the current headcounts, which
must be cut. Also, the GDP bonus that Ginny said the 1 PBC folks would get was
converted into an outstanding contributor award by payroll (probably for some
tax benefit or so they don't have to 401k match as I think someone said), which
then eliminated anyone on commission from receiving the award, so there you
have a brand new batch of top contributors (PBC 1) who are highly motivated
to leave and work for the competition.-ShipGoingDown-Comment
05/08/14:To -Anon-, who was being told to falsify hours to meet
128% utilization....If you DON'T report your manager, YOU are violating
BCG. I'd suggest a simple email to Ginni or HR, saying you're being directed
to violate the guidelines and afraid of the consequences of not complying and/or
reporting the problem. -Anon2-Comment
05/08/14:
@T2Rworkedforme - thank you for posting about your experience. Re getting
ahead of delegating work to others - it would help if they gave us more than
two weeks of lead time on the announcement - ie I will not have a definite "accepted"
for T2R until June 16, then will tell my team that I'm PT as of July 1. In my
present job, that is quite do-able - for others, a month of lead time would
probably be useful. But I am looking forward to that acceptance email! Thanks
again for posting about your positive experience and your suggestions on how
to make T2R work. -15yrsandcounting-Comment
05/08/14:
IBM Favored Young College Grads, Age Bias Suit SaysLaw360, New York (May 07, 2014, 8:37 PM ET) -- Three former International
Business Machines Corp. employees lodged a putative class action in New York
federal court, alleging the company had discriminated against older workers
through a hiring policy that favored young college graduates in violation of
the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, according to documents made public
Wednesday.
In a putative class complaint, dated April 28 but made publicly available on
Wednesday, former IBM employees John McCormack, 46, Mark Lingl, 48, and Ron
Shelton, 58, allege they were laid off at the same time...http://www.law360.com/technology/articles/535565/ibm-hit-with-age-bias-class-action-in-ny
-JustSaying-Comment
05/08/14:IBM reminds me of 3rd world dictatorship.
1. Corrupt leaders looting and hoarding wealth for themselves at the expense
of the common people.
2. Common people suffering and being abused and taken advantage of.
3. Corrupt and rigged judicial process/system. Monkey courts absent of any justice.
(hint PBC appeals process)
4. You could be charged and convicted without due process - given bad PBC rating
and subsequently RAed or fired.
I personally know of organizations that are about near ridding themselves of
all IBM software and hardware. They are sick of its sales people and its products
and high fees and its poor standing in the court of public opinion.-ANONYMOUS-Comment
05/07/14:ANON: Where do the BCG factor in? ha ha Ask your FLM. haha
-RAtirement-Comment
05/07/14:~screwed~ I got you beat in the screwed department. On 7/1/99,
I had 19 3/4 years with the company and was 39 3/4 years old. Actually, 1 month
shy of turning 40. So after 31 years I retired voluntarily with the cash plan,
and had to battle with IBM for 6 months to get my 401K match back. I never received
3 patent awards I was supposed to get as a retiree, even after signing a lot
of patent documents after I retired. But I got that $100 goldish watch. I'm
so glad to now be working for a great company that truly values it's employees.
-GoneIn2013-Comment
05/07/14:http://seekingalpha.com/article/2198203-ibm-3-different-insiders-have-sold-shares-during-the-last-30-days3 insiders sold IBM stock within one month. The stock was not
purchased by any insiders in the month of intensive selling. All 3 of these
insiders decreased their holdings by more than 10%.-Anon-Comment
05/07/14:I took T2R in 2012. I never worked one second past the 24 hours
agreed upon. My manager was actually the one that told me I should never even
consider doing more than 24 hours. I worked Wed - Fri and turned my computer
off all other hours regardless of what was going on. It is each person's own
personal decision on what is best for them but if you are planning on retiring
anyway and want a part time job, you should consider it. -longtimebeemer-Comment
05/07/14:Was told we need to stretch utilization to 128%. I was told to
increase my CLAIM hours to 53 per week until EOQ. Also, either skip vacation,
or CLAIM it regardless of planned vacation. Note that I am on the IBM Account
in GBS, but still, the unethical, deceptive, financial engineering continues.
The question is why this CLAIM increase benefits IBM's quarterly results when
it is blue money? -Anon-Comment
05/07/14:IBM's chip business: Experts speculate on rumored sale.http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/story/money/companies/ibm/2014/05/06/speculation-ibm-chip-business/8787923/
-anon-Comment
05/07/14:If you lose FHA even after working 30 years for IBM and lose it
due to the 55 yrs old requirement, the Union should help fight for the all the
IBMers affected. Whoever is affected, should join the Union to help fight for
your benefits being taken away by IBM. -Anonymous-Comment
05/06/14:I think as far as IBM as an employer goes, we are beating a dead
horse, as for IBM, their 2015 plan basically has been to photoshop photos of
horse, bet all raises for employees, all profit sharing, , all executives are
in a money grab, in horse race scenario, every quarter they lose the race, their
solution originally was to cut the fat, they cut fat and lost race, so they
cut muscle, now they are cutting bone, None of the executives seem to realize
that they are basically "selling the truck for gas money" They themselves
are deliberately setting it up so they can take their share and ge4t the golden
shower I mean parachute, At some point in future, this 5 year plan will be identified
, but only after execs have left with a robber barren worth of share, and they
al know that and someone will be put in place to rebuild Humpty Dumpty. The
current execs are only looking to how much can they get before Humpty falls
from the wall -Itsart-Comment
05/06/14:Bill, I was 39.5 years old on 7/1/1999 and had 16 years of service.
That's sad that someone only 6 months older than me with one year of service,
would have an advantage over me. -Screwed-Comment
05/06/14:I took the T2R 2012 package. Once I was on my T2R schedule, I
declined meeting invites that were outside my work hours. My schedule was (4)
6 hour days and I was done by 1 pm. I made a priority list of everything I was
doing prior to T2R. I made it clear to my management that I was not able to
do all this work in 24 hrs per week and they needed to abide by the commitment
they made to me. Their choice was to either re-allocate the lower priority work
or decide that maybe what they wanted me to do really wasn't all that important
and no one should do it. It took about a month to get everyone "trained".
So, if you are considering T2R know that it is your responsibility to enforce
your schedule. BTW, I was a FLM and I regularly donated (and still do) to this
site because I believe that a unionized workforce benefits everyone. This was
the only place to get the real info. So, give up a week of Starbucks and send
that money to support this site instead. -T2Rworkedforme-Comment
05/06/14:"B323 has a buyer! Road Map 2015 in place and on target. Where
will you be? -IBM to Real Estate!-"A buyer for B323? Who? How much? When? -Blue Flu Lou-Comment
05/06/14:WOW. So we are divided by FHA and Non FHA as well as 40+ in 1999
and Non 40+ in 1999. I stand corrected. Silly of me to believe even folks with
the same coverage would really HAVE the same coverage. That would make it too
easy. -Exodus2007-Comment
05/06/14:-Exodus2007-: It's at least 55 years old first and foremost AND
at least 15 years of IBM employment for FHA eligibility. -da_facts-Comment
05/05/14:Yes FHA >=55 years old and employed by IBM at that age. No
FSA < 55 years old when RAed or leave IBM age. 30 years of IBM service (once
"retirement eligible") doesn't matter if you are NOT yet 55 years
old in regards to FHA eligibility!-FHAformula-Comment
05/05/14:To those working 30yrs or more, you don't loose your FHA if you
don't make 55 yet. But you cannot use that account till you reach 55 yrs of
age. Clarify with IBM benefits. RA'ed on 3/31/2014. -anonymous-Comment
05/05/14:The full eligibility requirements for FHA are listed in section
1.4.4 of the "About Your Benefits - Future Health Account" Document
number USHR 117 on the NetBenefits, Reference Library page. You do not need
to be 55 if you meet the age 40 on 7/1/1999 with one year of service age requirement
and have 30 yrs or more of service. -Bill-Comment
05/05/14:@RAtirement: Sorry to whack all of your assumptions. I am not
a management troll, not a manager at all. Born in 1947. Hired by IBM in 1998
when I was 51. Turned 67 this year. Will be 68 when I retire in 2015. Can start
Soc Security whenever it makes sense. (ie anytime after 66, and I am way past
that!) T2R is a great program for me. -15yrsandcounting-Comment
05/05/14:To -Exodus2007- If someone was not 40 on 7/1/1999 They
needed to reach 55 to get FHA, regardless of years of service. I had 31+ years
when I got RA'd last summer but I was not 55 and I lost my FHA, which was close
to $35K. I got $100 of that back when I got my retirement gift LOL.
-no_respect_for_the_individual-Comment
05/05/14:I'm been at IBM 30 years as a non-exempt and am very close to
retirement. I will not take the T2R , people in the "outside" world
this our retirement amount is like a teacher's package...not We get about 30%
of that salary... yes I am grateful but hope to stay longer (unfortunetly) .
For as many years as I can remember I have put in extra hours at work, due to
projects or "emergencies" that if I had left work would have looked
VERY bad for my performance review. In probably 60% of the instances, I was
told "just take the time off"... managers play "this game"
we all know it.... so many times I wanted to tell state government..... but
even more times I had hoped for a Union because I'm afraid I'd be targeted to
be laid off is I didn't play this game !!!! -closeout not out-Comment
05/05/14:To-Exodus2007-:huh?
I have 32 years with IBM and I'm under 55. RA'ed 3/31, and the ESC said I do
NOT get the FHA because I'm under 55. 55 IS the number.To -15yrsandcounting-: Sorry, but you sound like a mgt
troll.... You are going to retire and immediately collect SS at 68 at the end
of 2014? So, IBM hired you when you were 53? I don't think they would hire such
old people, and it's very rare to have someone nearly 70 on the payroll.
-RAtirement-Comment
05/05/14:To -Exodus2007- 30 is NOT the magic number anymore, at
least not when under 55. I had 32 years and was 53 and no FHA there was a little
clause you must be 55... So, I lost 30K+ put aside for me because I was 1 1/2
years shy of 55! -GoneinVermont-Comment
05/05/14:I was RA-ed in September 2013 after 29 years 5 months. I took
the 'bridge to retirement' which resulted in an effective retirement date of
4/30/2014. I turned 50 in March. I see conflicting data regarding the FHA. Do
I qualify or not? Besides the kick in the *ss I got out the door, do I qualify
for the retirement gift at this point? The ESC had to look into this, and haven't
gotten back to me yet. Just wondering if there is something I need to do at
this point to push things along. -confused in POK-Comment
05/05/14:Ginny- take T2R! You'll be 57 this year and have more than five
years with IBM! It's the ONLY way you will be around 18mo from now!
-ilol@t2r-Comment
05/04/14:If you were 39 at the end of June, 1999 then you do not get the
FHA money unless you are 55 with at least 15 years of service. Check Fidelity
for effective/availability date of the account. I would have left two years
ago if it was based on 30 years. I was one of those 'distracted' phrase appraisals
so even if I wanted to the T2R I cannot. But only IBM would offer a chance to
work 'less' hours for their most 'valuable' if they promise to leave in 18 months.
Must be their method to avoid severance to a large group. Resource Actions are
normal seasonal events. Idiot company. -NotReallyTrue-Comment
05/04/14:If you received the T2R offer you were also added to the"Connections"
page for information and document access. Last count heard was about 17K names
added. -anonymous-Comment
05/04/14:IBM breaks labor laws? No surprise. They do it all the time: unchallenged.
Why do you think they "agreed" to "remix" exempt employees
to non-exempt and give them IBM mandated 15% salary decrease??? IBM does what
IBM wants to. To benefits IBM management and their bottom line. PERIOD. IBM
$uck$ Join the Alliance PLEASE! There is no other way IBMers to get what you
truly deserve which is much better than current treatment.-beammeaboard-Comment
05/04/14:Ready to retire? Want to see what IBM rewards you with?www.giftnetonline.comIBM company code is 1706. My wife's comment, I quote "WHAT
CRAP!" Looking in Kohl's or on Amazon prices average out to about $100.
-anon-Comment
05/04/14:For the person that is 30 years but not 55. The 30 years is the
magic number. With 30 years you get FHA. Without 30 years its 55 and some other
number. Isn't it neat how even within the company our benefits are so convoluted
by age, years of contiguous service and so on that we have trouble understanding
what we actually have. A Union contract could fix that. -Exodus2007-Comment
05/04/14:Does anyone know how does the transfer of the x86 division to
Lenovo is progressing? More important, how does Lenovo know how much/what terms
to offer the job to the x86 guys? Did IBM gave Lenovo the x86 financials/personal
files in order to allow them to make the offers? is that legal?
-lenovo-soon2b-Comment
05/04/14:Another way of looking at "doing the math"
... I was (seriously!) considering retiring at the end of 2014, and starting
Soc Sec payments on my 68th birthday in January. So full salary to end of 2014,
then SS. With T2R.... taking a hit with 70 percent salary for second half of
2014, granted. BUT... for all of 2014, I have a part time job with IBM that
will pay considerably more than any other part time options in my area. And
I can use that time to actually develop a better paying freelance practice.
T2R is a winner for me, even after doing the math. -15yrsandcounting-Comment
05/04/14:Well, IBM doesn't make the best employer to work for list anymore,
but they do make other lists:http://tinyurl.com/klhkchn
-dun-4-Comment
05/03/14:
-anon- about GDF parking lots. Really?
Where is your GDF? And no one complains to IBM about this?!! I sure would! You
need a UNION contract so you are reimbursed for this ya think? -GDF'ed-Comment
05/03/14:IBM tries to convince the State's Department of Labor that they
are hiring but they are not filling those positions. And the State DOL's are
not and have never challenged IBM to see if the jobs for hire actually get filled.
If you are unemployed in NY or NC or some other US State you can see this fact.-anonymous-Comment
05/03/14:My manager tells me exactly how many hours to CLAIM, and at the
end of each quarter, he bumps them up. He does not care if I work them or not.
I am on the IBM Account, so it's blue money, but still, what a waste of time
and crock of sh**. -Anon-Comment
05/03/14:IBM must be breaking some US Labor laws???, when they ask people
to work on their vacation days, etc (which is what you are doing in order to
meet those utilization goals. Once, I had this Resource manager who asked me
to CLAIM 44 hours for x # of weeks, so they could bill the customer for these
hours. I said, I was super productive and finished the work in 40 hours.. No
need for OT. She told me to post the hours anyway. I said no, that would be
lying. She got on my case about and escalated to my Business Manager. the BM
said he understand what I was saying, but just post the 4 hours/week, anyway.
I said that was fraud and goes against BCG. The BM said ok. ha -RAtirement-
Alliance reply: IBM is not breaking any labor laws re: working on Vacation days.
There's no labor law forcing companies to even provide "vacation"
as a benefit. Union contracts, on the other hand, can be negotiated to include
specific benefits such as vacation, and rules that protect workers from losing
their vacation.
Also, Alliance suggests that workers document ALL incidents of management pushing
their workers to "claim hours" that were not actually worked, so the
company can defraud their own customers. That IS actionable and the customers
could sue IBM for fraudulent business practices, if they found out.
As far as BCG violations go, the government cannot enforce IBM's own rules of
business conduct. IBM can break their own rules any time they see fit. But,
once again, with a union contract to protect the workers, those IBM rules cannot
violate the contract agreement with their employees.Comment
05/03/14:NBC News reported on unemployment numbers on 5/2. They said that
(among others) IBM is hiring. What. The. F. Yeah, sure. IBM is hiring at minimum
wage to replace all the people that got FIRED in Feb/March. And as far as T2R
is concerned, I have 30 years but I'm not 55 and I got a 3 this year because
I was forced into a different job in July, and was "the lowest contributor
in the department.... (What do you expect, I was in firehose learning mode for
the rest of the year, of COURSE I wasn't contributing as much as I was previously....!!!!!!
what a CROCK!) I am a dues paying member but I'm sorry. I have very little hope
that the Alliance is going to be able to do anything for me beyond this board.
Too many of the grunt IBM population are too uninformed or too scared (or both)
to join the union in high enough numbers to actually come to a vote. If and
when things change, it will be FAR TOO LATE for me. -anon-Comment
05/03/14:Thing is, if you are retirement eligible, you may not get a chance
to be RA'ed. You may instead become a victim of the other"initiative"
to get rid of people - the "PBC 3" check - two 3's, and you are gone.
Kiss goodbye any severance. Another fun initiative if you are in GBS on the
IBM Account is forced transfer to commercial and travel jobs. Refusal to transfer
implies resignation. In that case, kiss goodbye both severance and UI. So, I
am not eligible for retirement, but if I were, I would take the T2R and get
the hell out. Who knows what new "initiatives" they'll cook up. You
can bet that they will not get better. -anon-Comment
05/03/14:T2R may not be a bad deal for those who are planning to work post-IBM.
Since it is always easier to get another job when you already have a job, you
can use the next 18 months to find a better job outside IBM. You cannot be be
laid off and you only work 60% of the time so you can be stress-free and can
get to enjoy life a little. You can learn new skills that can help snag another
job or look into starting a business etc. while you continue to be on IBM's
group health plan and 401k. Then when you finally do find a better post-IBM
career, you just ditch IBM and move on. Could wok for some. -NotHopeful-Comment
05/03/14:I was qualified back in 2011 for the T2R. I did the math and it
didn't work. I stuck around until March 31, 2014... So I got full salary for
almost 2 years, instead of this 70% nonsense... Desperate times for "Carly
Rometti", calls for desperate measures... If this T2R can guarantee that
you can make the end date and be 55, to get the FHA, go for it.... I was screwed
by being too young on July 1, 1999, and also too young on March 31, 2014 to
get the FH -RAtirement-Comment
05/02/14:The only reason one should even consider taking the T2R would
be if it will guarantee you the Future Health Account. Otherwise it is ludicrous.
I know of 7 people that took it last time and all wish they hadn't. Why? Simple
math. You will get paid 70% of your salary. 70% x the rest of 2014 and all of
2015 equals 105% of your annual salary for working 18 months. There is no severance
pay (remember, you are exempt from being laid off). You will get 26 weeks salary
if you don't take the T2R and get laid off. So basically you need to work 6
months and then it's a wash even if you do get laid off. IBM would love you
to take the T2R. Unless it qualifies you for the Future Health Account, my colleagues
all said it was a mistake for them to sign up for it. -Avoid T2R-Comment
05/02/14:131% utilization for this quarter? Spoke to my FLM & told
him I don't think so. Methinks another group push back email is warranted. This
time, maybe CC some local papers & politicians that are up for re-election...
-I Will Not Comply-Comment
05/02/14:How And How Not To Launch Mobile App Development Initiativeshttp://seekingalpha.com/article/2186643-how-and-how-not-to-launch-mobile-app-development-initiativesOn Wednesday both IBM and Facebook announced new initiatives to
spur innovation in app development. Facebook's gambit to take over the mobile
apps industry from the ground of up is a classic example of Mark Zuckerberg's
strategy to innovate by firing on all cylinders. Unfortunately IBM's mobile
app development initiative for Watson is a bit of a joke. Regrettably all of
the worst qualities of IBM have manifest themselves in The Watson Mobile Developer
Challenge. -Anon-Comment
05/02/14:How to prop a stock for fun and profit.http://www.valuewalk.com/2014/05/warren-buffett-wildcard-ibm/Warren Buffett A "Wildcard" For IBM.
If or probably when IBM starts scaling back its share buyback program, the stock
could stall. However, if Warren Buffett remains a key buyer of the company's
shares, he could make up for that decline, at least for now, according to Bernstein
Research analysts.-Anon-Comment
05/02/14:Reading the negative feedback about T2R - I had two friends who
took the offer in 2012, with NO problems. Worked three days a week, and only
booted the computer 9-5 on those three days, period. Both worked right into
December, both were happy with the program. I guess if you are working crazy
hours now, you should probably think carefully about how you will set those
limits.... but I know it is possible. (And yes, I will definitely be applying.
I will make it to 17 years with IBM, and be gone.) -15yrsandcounting-Comment
05/02/14:-Xmgr- The problem with IBM's so called market rate is it does
not, or did not, compare equivalent jobs or even industries. Numerous times
it would leave out companies that were well known in software in the comparisons
for software engineers. Instead I was compared to telecommunications administrators
at AT&T, manufacturing engineers at 3M and so on. For the comparison to
be valid it should have contained companies like Google, Oracle, Sun, etc. The
reality is the market based compensation plan is just like the PBC process.
It serves no purpose other than to keep dissension down and to pretend that
some form of fairness exists. -anonymous_retiree-Comment
05/02/14:"atest at IBM East Fishkill NY is that they are now dismantling
the West Complex with the former MCL area up for surplus and B323 has a buyer!
Road Map 2015 in place and on target. Where will you be? -IBM to Real Estate!-"Maybe that's why it looks like the entire side of one of the West Complex
buildings has fallen off. Very sad... In the early '80s there were entire EF
departments working from POK because there was no room at EF. Not just IBM but
this town and country are reorienting themselves around $$$$$, forget families
and communities.-IBM_Kid-Comment
05/02/14:got a T2R email, I'm not even 50 yet. -anonymous-Comment
05/02/14:Ethics Issues At IBM: Will It Hurt Earnings? http://seekingalpha.com/article/2186333-ethics-issues-at-ibm-will-it-hurt-earnings
-Arne Alsin-Comment
05/02/14:I think with the Transition to Retirement, you may be immune from
being RA'd but you also forfeit any severance package when it's time to go.
Be sure to check on that before you sign anything -whatever-Comment
05/02/14:I participated in the first T2R program and knew several others
who did the same thing. For all of us, it worked out great. We were all planning
on retiring within the next couple years anyway so it was like retiring and
getting a part time job immediately. I don't think any of us ever worked more
than the 24 hours per week. Advise picking 3 days a week to work and leave your
computer off the rest of the time. With the no layoff guarantee you can basically
do whatever you want as long as you are prepared to retire. The only way they
can get rid of you is by firing you and then they will have to justify all the
good ratings they gave you etc etc. No FLM wants to do that. They will also
give you a small severance if you get fired. You can also leave at anytime during
the 18 months and retire with little or no notice. So, if you are planning on
retiring anyway, this is a viable program if you want a part time job.
-anonymous-Comment
05/02/14:The difference with this years Transition to Retirement is that
you have to apply and be accepted. No guarantee that you will be accepted. Two
years ago anybody that signed up for it was accepted. I guess that is IBM's
way of controlling who stays and goes. (pick the highest payed first).
-Van-Comment
05/02/14:One problem with Transition to Retirement...3's are not eligible!
Last time this program came around I was not ready. This time I am ready. Was
going to retire next year if I wasn't RA'd before that but because I was 'distracted'
and got a 3, NOT eligible. Did not fight the rating thought it pointless. Now
I wish I did. Is it too late to fight this? All I want is a 2 to be eligible
for this program. -f'd Again-Comment
05/02/14:Old and in the way - It looks like they are protecting themselves
from T2R program if they sell your division to another company. They are saying
that if they sell your part of the company, T2R doesn't apply to you in the
new company. -anonymous-Comment
05/02/14:-ANA- IBM has not hidden behind full employment and respect for
the individual since Gerstners first year. He did away with both. He also scrapped
opinion surveys, killed morale and stole pensions. Are there really folks out
there who had not noticed? -Exodus2007-Comment
05/02/14:Fake candidates are getting recruited in IBM for DBS Bank Project-
Singapore in Hydeabad office..
Interested people can apply-anonymous-Comment
05/02/14:Be careful with Transition to Retirment. The # of hours may not
be 60% of 40 hrs but rather 60% of 50 or 55 hours which some organizations consider
"working hours for exempt professionals". I know some people who took
this last time offered and were surprised when they were told they needed to
work 35-40 hours a week...so 70% pay for a normal 40 hour week. I guess IBM
can have their cake and eat it to. -becareful-Comment
05/02/14:I guess the execs/management were hammered in that global survey
last year for, among other things, not communicating enough. So their solution
is apparently to spam everyone one with useless emails about cloud and mobile,
over and over. We wanted useful communication, not just a higher volume of useless
email. They don't get it.-Watson's tumbler-Comment
05/02/14:It's not just IBM, apparently...http://gawker.com/inside-amazons-bizarre-corporate-culture-1570412337/+hamilton_nolan
-15yrsandcounting-Comment
05/02/14:What the transition to retirement really means is you will be
required to perform your function of 100+ % work in 60% of the time for 30%
less money. I knew someone who took the transition offer last time around and
he never slowed down due to tight schedules and commitments. Do not think that
a person who is salary will see any different in the work load. The idea might
work for someone on the clock, but I do not think you would be able to not show
up if you are on a real production line. As to old saying goes "product
takes precedence". -Ich Bin Mueder-Comment
05/02/14:The transition to retirement program is a joke. I know about 20
people who went through the program last time. All except 1 person was still
expected to work long hours. When they did not, they received sub par performance
reviews. Almost all of the people got disgusted and quit before their planned
retirement date. -Ginny Tookus-Comment
05/02/14:Latest at IBM East Fishkill NY is that they are now dismantling
the West Complex with the former MCL area up for surplus and B323 has a buyer!
Road Map 2015 in place and on target. Where will you be? -IBM to
Real Estate!-Comment
05/01/14:Transition to Retirement being offered again this year, received
the email today. Looks like the same deal as in the 2012 program: 70% pay for
60% schedule, immunity from RAs, retire by end of 2015. -Survivor-Comment
05/01/14:IBM is offering Transition to Retirement for anyone with at least
5 year service 55 years old. Wonder if this is just a way of keeping layoff
costs down ?? Sure seems like they are encouraging US employees to exit stage
left. Should I stay or should I go. Ship is sinking fast it seems.
-nonnymous-Comment
05/01/14:IBM's Culture Is Its Best Long-Term Investment Metric:http://seekingalpha.com/article/2181363-ibms-culture-is-its-best-long-term-investment-metric
-Peter E. Greulich-Interesting and accurate on IBM's deteriorating culture - the
write-in comments are even better...-Misty-Comment
05/01/14:Just heard from a coworker that the Transition to Retirement program
is being offered again (at least in IGS US). It sounds similar to the one two
years ago. This time those eligible have to retire by end of 2015. I know many
on here dismissed this the last time around, but I found it to be a win-win
for those who were going to leave soon anyway. -CJ-Roc-Comment
05/01/14:Just received the new U.S. retirement offer, which guarantees
70 percent pay for 60 percent work, plus exemption from resource actions if
you retire by Dec. 31, 2015. Applies to PBC 2 and above. But I'm not sure about
the fine print. "Employees who are ineligible for 2014 Transition to Retirement are
those who don't meet the eligibility requirements above and/or:
*Are in-scope for any business development activity that may be announced (e.g.
acquisitions, divestitures, outsourcing deals) prior to January 1, 2016. This
means if you are included in a corporate transaction after electing to participate
in 2014 Transition to Retirement, your election will become null and void. Q3."
There are other limitations, but defining "corporate transaction"
is a big one. -Old and in the way-Comment
05/01/14:Without a union contract for the IBM employees it will not matter
who becomes the CEO. Lou, Sam , Ginny , the new CEO ,they are all the same.
They are all corrupt and greedy people. Their families do great while RAs continue
in IBM and families loose income, and job security, benefits . For all these
years IBM has hid behind respect for the individual and full employment. These
two factors no longer exsist in IBM. For the sake of all IBM employees join
the union and have a union contract. Lou had a contract, Sam had a contract.
Ginny has a contract, the new CEO will have a contract, its about time employees
in IBM have a contract to protect their jobs and families. -ANA-Comment
05/01/14:Canada having another RA in June. Also, heard that another "transition
to retirement" program to be announced. -anon-Comment
05/01/14:-Xmgr- What happens if you are off the low end of the market reference
point on the salary chart? I was like about $1,000 off the low end I was PBC
2+ performed this year too. I also was not transferred to another IBM site region
where the pay would be lower.-lowballed?-Comment
05/01/14:This should not be any surprise. Demoralized employees run by
greedy execs engaged in self enrichment. What can go wrong?"In March, IBM CEO Ginny Rometty shared with shareholders the company's
plans to revamp the business around cognitive and cloud computing, as well as
systems of engagement."
Right cloud computing .. over commoditzed and will be more so.. make nickels
and dimes from a million ruby coding script kiddies is a great strategy to replace
S/360 profits. What could go wrong? IBM Australia profit
plummets by a third:http://www.zdnet.com/ibm-australia-profit-plummets-by-a-third-7000028965/-anonymous-Comment
05/01/14:Why We?re in a New Gilded Age:http://www.nybooks.com/articles/archives/2014/may/08/thomas-piketty-new-gilded-age/
-Paul Krugman-Comment
05/01/14:They shoot horses don't they? The hubris of our executives continues
to grow unabated. I work for GBS, NA. Mgmt is obsessed with utilization rate
and we are continually bombarded with emails about utilization. We have forced
weekend workdays, only our mgmt calls them innovation weekends.
The latest proclamation to come down from the mountain and our astute leaders
is that they are going to require 131% utilization rate for this quarter. Basically,
our mgmt requires employees to work the equivalent of 6 ? days every week of
the year with no vacation, sick time or holidays.
Now since management has only informed us of the 131% utilization rate this
week when the quarter was 1/3 done, some employees will have to work even more
in the next two months to meet this number. So management is concerned about
their employees being able to meet this utilization rate but the rumor is they
will motivate their employees by public floggings. Join the union!-Joe-Comment
05/01/14:In regards to the "strong" rumors about Rometty being
gone, so what!! It will make no difference to your crap working conditions until
you get a union. Meanwhile she'll be sipping brandy on the deck of her yacht
flipping you the bird. Wake up people. -boat-bit**-Comment
05/01/14:Looks like 100 acres at the Poughkeepsie Campus are for sale:http://www.thinkdutchess.com/site-selection/ibm-poughkeepsie-100-acres/
-dun-4-Comment
05/01/14:GBS ... 5 of 50 gone today. -Woodcock-Comment
04/30/14:Ha That is
what I said. She has an employment contract that spells out what she gets when
she leaves or is forced out of IBM.. None of the people here have a CONTRACT
I'm sure she will get millions when she leaves IBM along with other benefits
like Sam did. -samtheman-Comment
04/30/14:To -Anon-:
"market reference points" are from when IBM does competitive
salary benchmarks. The basic concept is to see the range of salaries paid for
comparable job at other companies to understand if your compensation is reasonably
aligned. If your manager gives you a chart with your salary plotted against
a high/low range, that's where you stand vs the market reference points.
-Xmgr-Comment
04/30/14:So it has
come to this:http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-04-29/truth-behind-ibms-revenues
-tired_and_blue-Comment
04/30/14:To all GDFers:
Why, Why, Why, Why, Why?...don't you join the Alliance!?-CarsRnotServers-Comment
04/30/14:-Samthman-: don't
you think Ginny has some special exec contract, which will give her a severance
package of 70 million to get out? They aren't going to give her one weeks salary
for each 6 months of service, up to a max of 26 weeks -Ha-Comment
04/30/14:I agree with
Not Engaged. The first line managers have no power to hire RAed people, except
transfers within or outside of the division, can't give merit increases to 2+
employees, have very little pull to give deserving employees pay increases,
can't place employees on the old pension even though they had the years of experience
but were "too young", can't give out stock awards at $0, can't organize
a simple face to face meeting without getting 10 levels of approval, can't hire
US employees and have to settle for inexperience global resources who don't
have the knowledge, can't keep high performing employees off the RA lists....
Exec mgt set the tone and policies for the low morale, NOT the first
lines! Whatcha gonna do? Fire the FLMs next for being ineffective? -not
engaged either-Comment
04/30/14:IBM's token
first female CEO will be known as a failure with 8 or 9 consecutive quarters
of declining revenue. Do they take away her Augustus Club membership too? Haha
-John-Comment
04/29/14:What are
"market reference points"? -anonymous-Comment
04/29/14:The Real
Retirement Crisis:http://www.huffingtonpost.com/randi-weingarten/the-real-retirement-crisi_b_5222036.html
-Randi Weingarten-Comment
04/29/14:I heard from
someone who works in HR that the employee engagement survey results were absolutely
terrible (at least in her SWG brand). Senior management have spent a while spinning
the results to make them sound only bad (up from disastrous) and expect the
first-line managers to fix the problem! As a former FLM myself, I found this
hilarious considering I had absolutely no influence over anything of significance.
-Not Engaged-Comment
04/29/14:Why all the
talk about Ginny being fired? She has an employment contract that will take
care of her if she is replaced or terminated. Do you? You think the person who
would replace her will be any different? The Board of Directors picked Sam,
Lou and Ginny. -samthman-Comment
04/29/14:I spent 10-years
and some months in IBM and I had "access" to many levels of the organization
with respect to the nature of the role I played. FLM, SLM, TLM, Directors and
VP. On the lives of my children, without a doubt in those 10-years can tell
you that:
a) there were more executives and managers that shook their head at the decisions
made from above
b) they implemented those decisions using the fire-first, aim-second approach.
maybe sometimes they would ask if the organization was"ready" but
not all of the time
c) If they had concerns maybe there would be a debate but the culture is such
that you argue and debate to a point - and then implement anyway
-anonymous-Comment
04/29/14:"There is
an excpetionally strong rumour that Carly Rometty will be gone after the stockholder
meeting."
My thoughts exactly ..Ginny "Carly Fiornia" Rometty, me thinks, will
be ousted soon before the bleeding gets worse - much like the shareholders ousted
Balmer. Me also thinks she is in over her head and is reflective of Palmosamo's
ignorance for selecting her. My opinion. -anon-Comment
04/29/14:-BlueFluLou- IBM
supplemental treatment vs. IBM contractor treatment. It sure sounds about the
same only difference is who writes your paycheck.-anonymous-Comment
04/28/14:To say many
managers do not like the way IBM is being managed and treating it's employees
is an understatement!! Sadly, any open challenges to the status quo would be
career suicide within management ranks. Even if it's based on moral and sound
business ethics. I left a management assignment a few years ago for those very
reasons. The PBC process is a farce. Even if you wanted to reward performance
the salary grid and market reference points prevent it. The restructuring of
job classifications for exempt/non-exempt virtually cut off career growth for
all but the lowest entry level bands. The only way to change any of this is
to organize and seek collective bargaining agreements. I'm very impressed with
the new approach and message from the Global Alliance! I hope "The Street"
picks up on this and existing IBM employees especially in the US wake up and
get organized. -Anon-Comment
04/28/14:Re: June. There
is an excpetionally strong rumour that Carly Rometty will be gone after the
stockholder meeting. There are open mutterings now, from very senior people,
that she is not up to it and are trying to distance themselves from her. Hopefully,
loose lips sink ships. -Anon-Comment
04/28/14:To -curiousNH-:
Its age discrimination. IBM gets rid on the long term employees and hires
college grads with little business acumen, questionable loyalties, little/no
work experience. Is that how you would want to run your own business?
-RAtirement-Comment
04/28/14:-curiousNH- Read
the job posting for the mfg jobs in Burlington closely. The job add that I read
clearly says " Long Term Supplemental positions " Supplemental = Temporary.
It does not matter if IBM says "Long Term" IBM can, will and has terminated
these positions at the drop of a hat. Read the archives here, plenty of examples
of supplemental employees being told not to show up the next week. No severance,
no transition assistance, you are just gone. Every time there is a bad quarterly
report you see supplemental employees being hit. Cut back to x days/week, x
weeks of unpaid furlough, or just fired and gone. IBM is firing full time regular
employees with lots of experience then turning around and hiring supplemental
employees. IBM can cut loose supplemental employees even easier than regular
full time employees. If that is they type of stability that you can live with
then go for it. Just know what you getting into. -BlueFluLou-Comment
04/27/14:Hi, just
some questions about the IBM plant in Essex Junction. The website says they
are hiring, yet the headlines say 400+ people were laid off. And some further
digging led me here, with all this talk of reducing staff, obsolete facilities,
etc..
So what's the deal? How can a company downsize and be hiring at the same time?
Especially if the facility is supposedly obsolete? Is it worth looking at starting
a 2nd (or 3rd or 4th) career in chip manufacturing in Vermont? What can you
expect to earn starting in the industry? I already work 12 hr rotaing shifts
in cleanrooms (biotech) so I think it would not be a difficult transition. Thanks,
I know it may be off topic to many of you, but I'm just exploring options.-curiousNH-
Alliance reply: So you are not an IBM employee? What do your instincts tell
you? From our perspective, it appears that IBM wants to be out of the hardware
buisness, completely and permanently. Others may disagree with us. So, stay
tuned to this comment section for other IBMers' PoVs. Comment
04/27/14:It would
have been nice to HAVE ALL of the IBM managers that have come to this page,
be honest with IBM employees that PBCs were a sham and caused RAs and the destruction
of IBM employees' lives. Too bad these managers did not join the union and were
for the IBM employee instead of greedy and corrupt CEOs Sam Lou and Ginny. I
hope all IBM managers join the union -ANA-Alliance reply: IBM managers
are not allowed to join the union, by Federal law. No way around it unless they
quit being managers. But IBM would simply fire them, if managers decided to
quit management (or revolted en masse). IBM would not keep them on as regular
employees. Your suggestion is not without our agreement, though in sentiment.
Alliance@IBM has known for years that many managers--even some in 3rd level
positions-- do not like the way IBM is being managed into an "abyss".
That's why it is up to the non-management workers to organize and bring a union
into IBM USA. It's very hard to do, but it's the ONLY thing to do for the workers
that will ultimately breathe new life into IBM's workforce in the US. Comment
04/27/14:BTV new one
3 week furlough in June, then apply for job with GF do you believe it?
-molevy-Comment
04/26/14:Part of 2013
IBM selected firings called a resource action and my UI ran out. What does Judge
Easterbrook (who killed the Cooper vs. IBM appeal but I got NO PENSION since
I was hired mre recently by IBM)) and Speaker John Boehner have in common?:
both think they know the "time value of money" which I no longer have.
Gotta borrow from my 401k I guess..what else to do? No bailout for me. I'm too
little to succeed after I appear to have failed.I'm from
the Raleigh, NC area (RTP) which should help why my severance and UI is now
shot. -U$AGovt$ucks-
Alliance reply: Whether the govt sucks or not, just remember who put you and
tens of thousands of other IBM workers in the same position: IBM management.
The govt is not the place to go to get any kind of labor justice, after everything
is said and done. The place and the thing that gets you justice and a voice
in this situation are a Union and a Contract. This is why Alliance@IBM has said
over and over and over: Organize and build a union of IBM workers that can overcome
IBM management with a majority election of their own union, and from there,
force IBM to come to the bargaining table; where pensions, benefits, layoffs,
working conditions, salary-wages, and health & safety rules can be *negotiated*
ahead of time. Then once it has been agreed upon, the contract is signed by
the union reps and the IBM executive management reps. Then you have all the
legal power and solidarity you need to do your job, and do it well.Comment
04/25/14:"Unions spell
out 'demands' to IBM, plan to step up organizing"This is probably the first time I have seen leadership from Alliance@IBM
and their sister organizations across the globe. Continue to increase the pace
folks because the more IBM applies focus on "anti-union" campaigns
the more worried they become - which shows that you guys are doing the right
thing. Any small organization can move faster than IBM; and in my mind there
is a glimmer of hope you can achieve some global movement that will create reverberations
throughout the industry let alone in IBM.-Anonymous-Comment
04/25/14:Wako- excellent
find about IBM stock buybacks! IBM is just rabidly buying back stock to improve
EPS with no regard for stockholder value and has been doing it since Gerstner.-IBMstockholder-Comment
04/25/14:What other
states besides CT does IBM not contribute unemployment? -gimmedamoney-Comment
04/25/14:Mike former
manager... You assume competence in the RA decision making. I can tell you there
is none based on what I have seen and the sales and delivery people who are
left with screaming or confused clients when key customer facing people working
on client projects in the "big plays" of mobility, big data and cloid
are RA'd while the IBM partners (e.g. Parasites) in the offices give themselves
big titles like director of digital strategy never having delivered a single
thing. These people are not being replaced with offshore resources, and in many
cases these are being RA'd as well. IBM isn't even offering replacements in
nearly all cases and this costs us revenue and profit. Its not just GBS but
in SWG, GTS and GPS as well. Other companies aren't eating our lunch, we are
actively giving it to them. Its like a market exit in ALL lines of business.
Maybe Buffet's strategy is to break up IBM and make a mint on the "consultation
fees" in this process.-anon-Comment
04/24/14:You know
why -gone2013- people come here to this website? For truthful information.
Not the IBM rhetoric always-in-their-favor-spin. IBM is not informing their
employees or public. Not about anything except their own news on things. Which
is not saying too much of substance. So the Alliance@IBM CWA has a real purpose.
There is substance here. If it wasn't for the Alliance who would be forthright?
-IBMUnionYES-Comment
04/24/14:Please be
advised IBM management is ratcheting up their anti-union campaign and also rebutting
all anti-IBM sentiments on Yahoo boards since it appears it is going to be a
rough period coming up, including the upcoming JAX stockholder meeting.
-anonymoussupport-Comment
04/24/14:Also if you
were RAed by IBM when a NY resident and later hired as a contractor for IBM
(say by Manpower) and let go you also can collect unemployment and collect your
pension. -itsafactjack-Comment
04/24/14:Anyone hear
of something big happening June 1? i.e. job cuts? -KC-Comment
04/24/14:I want to
sincerely thank both the Alliance@IBM and a former IBMer from CT who posted:"If you reside in CT, under the prior pension plan, taking retirement
benefits, and looking for work you can receive unemployment benefits. No reduction
based on pension amount. Is because IBM stopped contributing to plan at end
2007. Be sure to print prior plan document on net benefits. -Anon-". I had initially been turned down by the CT DOL, as I was collecting
a pension. After reading the above blog, I appealed the decision and won. A
huge thanks to my CT colleague for taking the time to share this information
- and my sincere appreciation to the Alliance@IBM team for this incredibly valuable
website. -Thank you!-Comment
04/24/14:IBM global
unions call for reorientation of IBM:http://www.endicottalliance.org/ibmguareoientation_doc.htm
-Alliance-Comment
04/24/14: http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/23259-protecting-the-rights-stranglehold-over-union-elections
-John-Comment
04/24/14:Could Fiscal
Conservatives Help Fight Workplace Discrimination? Check out...https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/let-s-unite-against-bullying-harassment
-Anonymous-Comment
04/24/14:Pretty good
analysts statement on share buy backs by IBMhttp://seekingalpha.com/article/2160023-why-ibm-continues-to-lose-its-luster
-Wako-Comment
04/24/14:Anyone else noticed
IBM blocked this page? I can only access it at home now. It used to work just
fine... Today it said "forbidden". Kinda made me laugh though... Glad
I am leaving at the end of April. -FewDaysToGo-
Alliance reply:Sorry to hear
of your job loss. IBM has been blocking the Alliance site, off and on for some
time, depending on the IBM location, in the US. We always remind our members
not to access the Alliance web page from inside IBM, because IBM *could* fire
anyone if they find out. These are the precautions that we recommend for US
IBMers. We aren't aware of the specific rules in IBM locations outside the US
; however, that same caution should be taken for the same reasons, in our view.By the way, the Alliance page can be accessed using your
mobile device, too. Thank you for the information.Comment
04/24/14:Jet Blue
pilots vote to unionize.
Jet Blue pilots have enough courage to took out for their best interest even
at Jet Blue which is arguably the most employee friendly airline in the US.
Why aren't more IBM employees able to look out for themselves instead of continuing
to be lambs lead to the slaughter? http://time.com/73086/jetblue-pilots-unionize/-BFL-Comment
04/24/14:"The union
will not give a forthright answer to this. I have heard that the union only
has 200 to 300"What???
IBM management is not forthright with it's headcount numbers when it determines
what tax breaks and incentives they get. IBM doesn't tell anymore. They will
not even give a ballpark figure on RA firings. Competitive reasons IBM, c'mon
that is not forthright or even has an ounce of integrity! The Alliance is forthright:
always has been and always will.
So -gone2013- if you are an IBM manager or union buster, troll, or
corporate apologist, just go away, -gone2013-. It is now 2014 anyway!-Go Alliance!-Comment
04/24/14:Just a quick
summary of what is now left in IBM storage sales (John Polly is the VP, a part
of division 12) in the US: Started January 2014 with 28 in management and 196
employees. RA'ed 2 managers and 40 employees in March.
This is the entire direct sales force for IBM in the US. 156 employees remain
to cover all of this geography. Plus, about 25 of those employees are not even
assigned in the field. EMC has that many sales reps in the state of Texas.-Storage Dude-Comment
04/23/14:Question
by-Anonymous- "I have one question for the Union.
How many people do you need to join the union?" Assuming IBM has 83,000 employees in the US, the Alliance needs AT LEAST
30% (27,667) employees who are willing to sign a card that says they want to
be represented by a union. If it can get over 50% (41,501), that's even better.
We are at 300 now.-UnionActivist-
Alliance reply: To clarify, the Alliance also is a membership organization and
advocate for employees. What that means is that we can do a lot, way before
we get to the point of calling for a union vote. We all know that getting to
that point is difficult.
Getting to that point is possible on a smaller scale. For example if the majority
of workers at the Dubuque GDF joined the Alliance as full members, we then have
an Alliance chapter that can start the process of negotiating with IBM over
workplace issues.Comment
04/23/14:To -Gone2013-
What kind of fool complains about an organization that they think is a
waste of time, on that organization's web site?? If you think organizing an
IBM union in the US is a waste of time because Alliance@IBM member numbers are
"too low", why bother coming here to say that in the first place?
Are you a union-buster? Are you anti-union? Have you ever benefited from any
of the information that can be found on allianceibm.org?? People like you are
simply baffling to me. The Alliance replier went too easy on you, in my view.
Why not troll on somebody else' board, eh? -BlueEyedBlindness-Comment
04/23/14:I don't think
the Alliance and IBM Global Unions and works councils are making DEMANDS per
se; they just sound like REASONABLE ACTIONS that they want IBM to follow. Why
is it that a Union DEMANDS and a CORPORATION makes a CONCESSION? Like Unions
have no right to tell a corporation whose employees' they represent how they
want them to be treated? IBM is placing DEMANDS on it's employees and are not
CONCESSIONING anything! It's like IBM's way or no way.-anonymousUnionsupporter-Comment
04/23/14:Question
by-Anonymous-"I have one question
for the Union. How many people do you need to join the union? It seems to me
that you have keep asking people to join and I have always wondered how many
people do you need to ACT?"Answer: The union will not give a forthright answer to this. I have heard
that the union only has 200 to 300 members in IBM-US. The union has no leverage
or influence, and never will with numbers of anonymous members this low. -Gone2013-Alliance reply: Gone2013, We have answered this many times in this
comment section. You gave an answer without even looking into the archives.
We are not hiding anything. Everyone should stop worrying about how many members
we have and join. Is there some magic number people need to see before joining?
That is absurd and counter productive. Frankly it is just an excuse to sit and
do nothing. The Alliance, regardless of its numbers does a lot of work and organizing.
See this article...again. http://www.endicottalliance.org/organizingforthelonghaul.htmComment
04/23/14:Hey you
-RAtirement- There is nothing called cheap or costly resources. All are
the same for IBM to fire. As they pay as they get ... so they paid less and
hence no one is sticking to their jobs in India -HappytoGO-Comment
04/23/14:The problem
with IBM management (and much of corporate America) is this focus on share price
rather than on the business itself. IBM is cannibalizing itself to artificially
prop up the share price. The article posted earlier by bigblew said it quite
well -
worth a repost - http://davidstockmanscontracorner.com/big-blue-stock-buy-back-machine-on-steriods/
-Anon-Comment
04/22/14:ANA: They
all got their "bonuses" on Jan 31/Feb 1. Not sure what all those $0
cost shares were... part of their employment contract or some kind of "performance"
payout... At any rate, it doesn't look good, even if legal, because 4 weeks
after, IBM laid off thousands of IBM'ers... How many jobs could have been saved,
by NOT giving out those shares? -RAtirement-Comment
04/22/14: The trouble with this new IBM management
is that they could not care less about IBMers . All they care about is their
bonus at the end of the year and how many stock options they can cash in to
make millions, while RAs continue, PBCs are a shame, benefits are lost, wages
decline, raises no longer are available. Mr TJ Watson Sr and Mr TJ Watson Jr
would be rolling over in their graves if they would see today how Lou Sam and
Ginny have treated the IBM employee. To these three people it is all about greed.
IBM needs a union contract for their employees to stop this unjust behavior
and for the employees to be protected. Join the Union -ANA-Comment
04/22/14:Would luv
to hear Ginni is out as CEO come stockholder's meeting. What a dunsel! IBM needs
to clean house in MANAGEMENT above first line now to survive. 2nd line and above
management RAs should be the next round of cuts. -anonymous-Comment
04/22/14:-No more share
buybacks!-: Scary. IBM should not be considered as 'too big to fail'. If
it does fail not one $.01 of my tax money will pay to bail them out and keep
them afloat!!!!! How many have been RAed and fired over the years making most
of them 'way too little to succeed'????? Where is their bailout?????-EPS$***-Comment
04/21/14:Hold on to
your hats! Latest Bloomberg Report on IBM Share Buybacks says Ginny must turn
to 'increasing revenue or reduce expenses further' in order to meet profit goals.
Investors are becoming fatigued with IBM and more fearful of the ruination of
long-term financial health due to the EPS strategy/roadmap.http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-04-21/ibm-ceo-loses-tool-to-reach-profit-goals-as-buyback-splurge-ends.html
-No more share buybacks!-Comment
04/21/14:Nick J - I
don't know why you would have left a good job to join IBM but be grateful you
are gone so soon. Good luck in the future and use better judgement and some
research when picking your next employer. -longtimebeemer-Comment
04/21/14:I wonder
if it is any coincidence that Connections and Developerworks is unable to stay
up for more than 10 minutes. We just don't have the staff these days. It is
an utter and total embarrassment at the moment. -Anon-Comment
04/21/14:I was a manager
for 10 years and was RAd last summer. I've laid people off and can tell you
this: It doesn't matter what you do or how well you do it, you are an expense
to IBM and RAs are about $$. IBM will continue to lower delivery standards until
they reach the point where customers scream, they will improve just enough to
make the screaming stop. The hope is that over time the customers will get tired
of screaming and simply expect less. Jobs will continue to either be shipped
to lower cost countries or eliminated all together until the screaming starts
again and the process will be repeated. Your PBC is simply a tool and, like
a hammer, it can be used to create or destroy. When it comes to RAs, you're
assessment has very little to do with whether your name makes the list or not.
The real deciding factor is whether eliminating or having lesser skilled (aka
cheaper) workers perform the work will generate an unacceptable level of screaming
from the customer. -Mike-Comment
04/21/14:-da_facts-
is correct. The pbcs are subjective and are constrained by artificial quotas
placed on the number of 1s, 2+s, etc the org is authorized for. The managers
will always find some nit to pick on, to avoid giving you a 1, etc. -RAtirement-Comment
04/21/14:-anon- This
IBM executive regime thinks the only WATSON to notice now is a hunk of iron
that "liked" to mentally beat up humans on Jeopardy! It is sad this
present IBM "Executive ME first" regime forgets it's true leaders
and forebearors just like it forgets it's retirees and present employees. I
heard that TJ Watson Sr. begged Gerstner to "..save his company" when
TFL took over as CEO. I guess after that Lou took it that it was HIS (not the
Watson's) company to save.. what an insult to TJ Jr. and even Sr. IMO. This
IBM executive regime also "celebrated" the wrong anniversary of IBM's
100th year... the celebration was cafeteria hot dogs and hamburgers at IBM site
parking lots... As a Union we can fix history and also correctly remember and
commemorate it.-IBMUnionNow-Comment
04/21/14:A long time
ago the PBC/Appraisal process was used to identify peoples performance. Back
then it was used to support promotions , salary increases and awards. Today
it is supplemental to the ranking system.Everyone is ranked and the PBC matches.
Usually when PBC 2's get fired it is based on their ranking. Look at it this
way if you had 10 employees all rated as a 2 there would still be a ranking
1-10. When the RA happens the bottom goes. Now whether the PBC is an honest
assessment that's a different topic. Every company ranks their employees even
unions. It is the only way to determine who is the most productive.We did it
back in the 60's and still do it today. It's just more visible then it used
to be. Back then no one talked about their rating or salary. Today this is discussed
in the lunch/break areas as well as the offices.The advantage of a union is
it takes longer to fire someone but in times of bad business it still happens.
So either go get another job or join the union. -lastdino1-Comment
04/21/14:I am a ex-RA'd
employee of IBM. I have one question for the Union. How many people do you need
to join the union? It seems to me that you have keep asking people to join and
I have always wondered how many people do you need to ACT? -Anonymous-Comment
04/20/14:To -anon-..
Of course there is no mention of the anniversary of the death of TJ Watson Jr..
There is no longer respect for the individual, which was one of IBMs CORE values
until it was quietly removed by Sam? or Lou?. We know that Lou got rid of full
employment, another CORE value from Watson Sr. -RAtirement-Comment
04/20/14:Employee
Salary rip off or 'creative rounding'. Looking at the sheet for my MBA/TCR salary
increase. It has been nagging me where it shows monthly and annual salary that
doesn't match actual gross pay. Looking at last weeks pay stub it is apparent
that IBM is basing the percentage on (24) payroll periods = 48 weeks, not (26)
= 52 weeks. 1 PBC performers is your 6% GDP based on full salary or less?
-Anon-Comment
04/20/14:I bet most
RAed just fall short of FHA eligibility by IBM's design. -trexibmer-Comment
04/20/14:So called
Performance Reviews or Appraisal Processes are strictly subjective
instruments used by a companies' Human Resources Department for whatever means
they want to use it for. It rarely leads to objectivity even if the employee
is rewarded by it.-da_facts-Comment
04/20/14:12/31/2013
was to the 20 year death anniversary of the death of the legendary IBM CEO and
son of the founder and father of the s/360 mainframe - TJ Watson Jr. Not a single
word from this management. Any comparison to him would put the current management
to shame; so naturally his passing would go unnoticed. -anon-Comment
04/20/14:I think PBC
rating is totally independent of being RA'ed. I have been a consistent 2+ but
was RA'ed last quarter and yet a friend in a sister dept was rated a 3 and he
was safe. -Anon-
Alliance reply: You are right. But there are many *supposed* reasons that IBM
uses for RA's. None of those reasons make any real sense, as applied. The bottom
line is that IBM RA's people because they believe it will increase their bottom
line--of profit$.
Remember: You're an "At Will Employee". As an "At Will Employee",
you can be fired for any reason or no reason without notice; or you can quit
for any reason or no reason without notice. IBMers need to step away from the
"trees" of IBM, so that they can see the "forest" for what
it is. Stop trying to play by IBM's rules. Start playing by the rules of an
organized labor force that fights for a contract for its union members. Once
that occurs, you won't need to wonder whether PBC ratings are independent of
being RA'ed. Join us.Comment
04/19/14:RAed after
10 months, glad I left a good job to be a number for Big Blue.. On my way to
a reseller to put EMC/Netapp/Pure in any shop I can get into.. -Nick
J-Comment
04/19/14:I didn't
notice a peep on here about the Mozilla employees speaking out about their CEO,
now stepped down. Why aren't IBMers similarly announcing their outrage with
the Executive management? Oh, that's right, the social web guidelines likely
means they can fire you for it. Future looks bleak without a contract...
-IBMbarrassed4U-Comment
04/19/14:Good perspective
from David Stockman on IBMs "growth" strategy.http://davidstockmanscontracorner.com/big-blue-stock-buy-back-machine-on-steriods/
-bigblew-Comment
04/18/14:To -IBMer
in search of justice. Dear IBMer,
There is no longer any justice in IBM. The new IBM is run by corrupt greedy
executives and 3 CEOs (Lou Sam and Ginny WHO only care about themselves and
the quarterly profits. You and everyone else at IBM is a at will employee, and
Executives at IBM can do what ever they want to screw the employees when it
comes to raises promotions, benefits, pensions, and retirement benefits and
RAs. WIhout a union contract this will continue. Join the Union.
-ANA-Comment
04/18/14:Re: the
-IBMer in search of Justice- comment. Amazing once again, that there are
IBM employees that *think* IBM's PBC system can be "studied" by the
feds or even a State government for wrong doing of some kind. Seriously?? No
government labor laws cover company created rules and systems. Why is this fact
so misunderstood among IBMers? This is not the first time I've seen this question
on this web site's comments sections. I personally think Alliance's patience
with questions like this is way over and above what they should be. I wonder
how many IBM workers actually are this uninformed? wow. - BlueEyedBlindness-
Alliance reply: We have continued to answer questions, as best we can, regardless
of whether they have been asked many times before. Not being informed of labor
laws and being an At Will Employee, is the exact reason why Alliance continues
to answer these questions without judging anyone. We never intend to insult
anyone or be condescending to get our point across. This why
Alliance@IBM exists: to inform and provide an alternative to the propaganda,
lies and abuse that IBM dishes out to their employees on a daily basis. Thank
you for your support.Comment
04/18/14:HR appeals
regarding PBC issues will no longer result in a "Panel Review". HR
case managers now handle the appeals, and it would now take an act of God to
actually get beyond them to a Panel Appeal. This is because the systemic downgrading
of PBCs across target IBM organizations is a business strategy. HR knows that
if these cases go to "Panel Review", fairness will prevail. This isn't
about fairness. It's about contorting the PBC system into a tool used to advance
a corporate business strategy. More 2's and 3's means more attrition, more forced
RAs and inferior severance packages, meaning cost savings. Is it legal to screw
employees this way? Of course, it is! I must say that I now envy both of my
parents who were government workers and had unions protecting their interests.
-Anon-Comment
04/18/14:I have a
simple question. Has anyone or any group challenged the PBC system as discriminatory?
After the latest inquisition I sat down with a friend who is a senior executive
in HR at a fortune 100 corporation and described the yearly bloodletting we
go thru, as well as shared my PBC's for 2014. My friend was shocked at what
I told her, and was especially curious as to how IBM was able to deal with the
disparate impact caused from such a process. In fact, she was sure that this
was an issue based on the resource action process I described. Has anyone looked
into this? Is there any way to request the government run a study on IBM?s PBC
system? I think all of us would do anything to get rid of this horrid, unfair,
unjust, yearly inquisition! -IBMer in search of Justice-
Alliance reply: Simply put, the answer is no. Why? Because IBM can break their
own rules any time they want to. The Federal government has absolutely NO SAY
about what IBM does with their own policies. The best way you have to "get
rid of this horrid, unfair, unjustly, yearly inquisition" is to form a
union and fight for a collective bargaining agreement. All IBMers in the US
are "At Will Employees" and have no say about how IBM conducts its
employee policies; which include the PBC system, the Salary system, the workplace
conditions, the benefits (if any) and the circumstances involving RA's. The
labor laws generally vary from state to state; but even so, they are stacked
in favor of Corporations and business....NOT the worker or employee. If you
know of others you work with that also don't know this information, it would
be a good idea if you informed them. It would even be a better idea if you and
other IBMers currently employed, joined the Alliance and organized throughout
the company locations in the US. With the a majority of IBMers, we could bargain
for a legally binding contract that would most definitely include protections
against discrimination by IBM on many levels, legally. Are you willing to do
that?For more information on
"At Will Employee" status and other questions, see this page: http://www.endicottalliance.org/allianceibmsimplefactsheet.htmComment
04/18/14:Anony:You
get what you pay for. How are those cheap resources from India working for you,
Ginny?? Haha -RAtirement-Comment
04/18/14:Comment 04/14/14
from GDF comments:
got told 10 more days of furlough for 2nd quarter. After 10 in the first. poor
ibm must really need the money! BASTARDS! -billy-
-anonymous-Comment
04/18/14:Client execs
in Gb being transferred last Monday and next Monday to SWG. At least part of
them, don't know what will happen with the rest, probably laid off. The drive
towards business partners continues. What is the logic to transfer unskilled
folks to SWG? More client dissatisfaction to come... -Midwestern
anon-Comment
04/18/14:If you treat
your resources (ahem, human employees) poorly you can't expect good results.
If you browbeat them to improve and threaten them (RA them) it will make it
worse in the long run. When will Ginni Withchetty realize this simple fact???
-da_facts-Comment
04/18/14:GBS Hiring
totally frozen. No new hires until at least 3Q. Doesn't include some of the
delivery centers (i e Baton Rouge) Any exceptions need to go through a painful
process to get approval.-Anon-Comment
04/17/14:hahaha. Seen
on Twitter:@complianceweek: You gotta love modern Corporate
America: IBM reports lower profits due to higher cost of laying off workershttp://nyti.ms/1ns6IJv
-Erin-Comment
04/17/14:STG down
23% for yet another quarter ..http://www-03.ibm.com/press/us/en/pressrelease/43696.wss..
How low can you go?? .. my money says POWER will be next on the auction block
.. living in the Unix days are over and it's too late to catch up to Linux -no_longer_IBM-Comment
04/17/14:IBM to immediately
reduce 25% of all US contractors. First release date is 4/18 with the next wave
set for 4/25. IBM looking to adjust Subks and put on hold and red or amber (troubled)
accounts. -Anonymous-Comment
04/17/14:I was RA'd
2/27/14. IBM says I am retired. I have not signed up for my Annuity as of yet.
Or have I signed up for my cheap retirement gift. Fidelity seems eager to close
me out. -Over55-Comment
04/17/14:Regarding
"analysts being confused".... great article. It should be clear to
everyone that IBM is in a free-fall at this point with the analysts. The analysts
won't admit IBM is in a free-fall state until next year at the earliest because
the numbers are just not that low to call-out IBM. The "quality" of
the numbers is something that has been on their mind for quite some time. Since
there is a pattern of behavior here they can begin calling a spade for what
it is.... a spade. Watch Microsoft folks. They will soon be considered a stronger
competitor of IBM's Lotus Notes e-mail platform since they are now in the cloud
and Notes is not. -Anonymous-Comment
04/17/14:http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/article/20140417/BUSINESS01/304170033/IBM-s-earnings-down-15-percentI smell more RAs...and soon.. -POK'eybyIBM-Comment
04/17/14:Earnings
fell what a shock or not. Just as an example, I was RA'd 2/28, however, I was
on a large project at the time where the customer liked me to the point of extending
my contract. I was billing the customer over 48 hrs. per week and this most
likely would of extended through September with the possibility through the
end of the year. Since I was on a DOU to an AMS account, my division did not
even consider this and went ahead with the RA. Now does that sound like good
management? It just goes to show you that the customer is not even considered
and the bad management that exist within IBM now. -AnonPM-Comment
04/17/14:Not only
is the erosion of the company becoming obvious to the street and customers,
but internally it feels like the infrastructure is crumbling rapidly. There
are huge technical problems on about every internal webcast I try to join. Where
is all of the great virtual, elastic, extreme scaling goodness that we tout?
Not eating our own dog food? No skilled employees to maintain and equipment/software
decaying? Not to mention case after case of egregious security problems. The
impactonline.com site that we are asking customers to use has huge security
problems, and they will be putting personal information and their schedules
on there. The mobile app for last year's Impact conference was a laughing stock,
just horrible. -Anony-Comment
04/17/14:The analysts
finally appear to have lost their patience with IBM. If the analysts are confused,
and don't quite understand what the company is trying to say, what about regular
investors?http://www.thestreet.com/story/12673272/1/greenberg-even-the-analysts-are-confused-by-ibm.html
-anon-Comment
04/17/14:http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2014/04/16/ibm_q1_2014_results/What's a right pain in the ASCII for IBM? Its own leech-like hardware
biz Keep your eyes on our cloud while we remove this pesky thing, say execs
IBM's earnings for the first quarter of the year show that the company's hardware
division has turned into a leech sapping Big Blue's profits.-Anon-Comment
04/16/14:Quote from
the NY Times article:"IBM?s quarterly profit was
hurt by a charge of $870 million for the severance costs for workers laid off.
Every year, the company, which employs more than 400,000 people worldwide, sheds
employees in markets and product areas that are declining and adds workers in
other units." -Anon-Comment
04/16/14:NY Times:
Profit and revenue slip at IBMhttp://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/17/technology/ibm-quarterly-earnings.html?hpw&rref=technology
-Anon-Comment
04/16/14:I was RA'd
or fired or however IBM wants to say it back on 2/28. After 3 yrs as an IBMer
and more as contractor, I was so furious at the way I was treated as an IBMer.
I got a 2 and (2) 3 on my PBCs. In three years, I had 4 different managers,
none who had a real clue on how to manage people or even what I was doing! When
they actually lied on those two 3 PBCs, I never bothered to contest them with
HR. What difference would have made anyhow?! Now I heard that my old group in
GBC converted a contractor and tried to hire an old ex-IBMer, who told them
NO.... It still irks me the way I was treated and it seems like others were
treated the same way. Just remember, you stepford managers, what comes around,
goes around.... -EXTXIBM-Comment
04/16/14:Based on
IBM's 1st QTR 2014 results you can bet on another RA real soon.
-nostradamus-Comment
04/16/14:http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_EARNS_IBMIBM POSTS LOWER 1Q EARNINGS, REVENUE
NEW YORK (AP) -- IBM says its first-quarter earnings fell because of a large
charge related to reorganizing its work force. Revenue fell amid an ongoing
decline in its hardware business. -Anon-Comment
04/16/14:Mexican mobile
phone operator sues IBM for $2.5 billion:http://finance.yahoo.com/news/ibm-hit-2-5-billion-161058071.html
-Nate Raymond-Comment
04/16/14:IBM hit with
$2.5 billion lawsuit by (Reuters) Mexican mobile phone operatorhttp://www.chicagotribune.com/business/sns-rt-us-ibm-mexico-20140416,0,5918955.story-anon-Comment
04/16/14:Ginni made
14 million in 2013 yet RAs continue. Ginni Lou and Sam are all three corrupt
and greedy executives. Without a union, this type of corruption and greed will
continue to both employees and retires will continue to loose benefits ,have
no salary increases, and RAs will continue. The PBC program is a shame in IBM
. Join the union to stop this corruption. -ANA-Comment
04/16/14:-Over55- ...and
you have that Gubbernor who only approves 20 weeks UI so even if the House finally
approves an extension RTPers unemployed for a longer time probably don't get
any further benefit. And the gubbernor in NC I heard thinks most on UI just
don't want to work in the first place...and backs it up with false statistics
and veiled threats too.Makes ya wonder if he is on
the IBM executive payroll?!? -TarHeeledIBMer-Comment
04/16/14:People here
occasionally wonder if it would be a good idea to request being included in
the next RA. I suspect the wisdom of doing so varies greatly by organization
and your relationship with your manager.
Last year, I told my boss that I was in a position to retire and would hate
for someone less fortunate to get RA'd when I would probably be leaving soon,
anyway. Well, she must have thought it was a good idea, since SHE RAtired in
the next round, as did one of the other 1st lines in our group. The funny thing
is, both of them were immediately replaced by non-managers. It might have worked
out well for all involved, but it's hard to explain how managers are surplus
when they're backfilled. It's just another example of how poorly the RA process
is managed.-RAtired-
Alliance reply: Without a union contract, IBMers in the US can expect much more
"poorly managed" processes than just RA's. IBM "manages"
RA's for IBM's benefit, not the employee. The sooner IBMers realize that IBM
will continue to abuse and mismanage their workers, the sooner IBM workers can
organize and change that paradigm. Get busy fighting for your jobs, or get busy
losing them.Comment
04/15/14:http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/15/opinion/ceo-pay-goes-up-up-and-away.html"There are billionaires like Warren Buffett and Larry Page who
don't pig out ... As the chief executive of Google, co-founder Page takes a
$1 annual salary ... But there are others who can't keep their hands off the
dough."Ginni, for example, is number 48 on this list:http://www.equilar.com/nytimes/the-new-york-times-100-highest-paid-ceos
-Pig Stain on Your Fat Chin-Comment
04/15/14:To -Over55-:
what do you mean that IBM can go after you? are you still an IBMer or are
you retired? How could they go after you, if you are retired? Did you contact
EEOC to file a complaint or to file a suit? -RAtired-Comment
04/15/14:@-BlueEyedBlindness-
ok, what you say makes more sense to me now, thanks for clarifying, and I agree.
-Anon-Comment
04/15/14:@Gone For Good
- My wife is still an employee at IBM POK. She has an office, but works
from home virtually all the time. We are relocating to be closer to my new job
in the greater NYC area, but she will keep her office. Unfortunately I left
just in front of last year's Fall layoffs. Wish I could have saved one of the
cuts from my Dept. I'm sure it's only a matter of time before they punch her
ticket, but we figure that at least one of us should get a package after our
50+ years with this place... -Happy To Be Gone From POK-Comment
04/15/14:Citigroup
downgraded IBM to "neutral" from "buy" and set a $200 price
target. The firm cited valuation as the reason for the movehttp://www.thestreet.com/story/12669914/1/will-this-analyst-downgrade-hurt-ibm-stock-today.html
-anon-Comment
04/15/14:Well EEOC
in NC contacted me today, seems like a waste of time in a "Right to Work"
state to do anything Legal with IBM. Was told IBM can go after me if I open
a case. I really wish my old co-workers the best of luck. IBM Retirement is
not what you think. But I can say I feel more at ease now that I am out of that
Hell hole worring every QTR if I have a job or not. -Over55-Comment
04/15/14: -@Happy To Be Gone From POK- My
wife was just RA'd from POK on 3/31 and the reason given is that she does not
have an office in NY. We bought a retirement home out of state last year and
after getting 2 levels of management approval for her to work from home permanently,
we sold our NY home and moved. Ironically, right after we bought the other house,
I was RA'd in June. No one knew about the new house then but they sure were
jealous that I had a plan. To everyone, have a fallback plan for when IBM comes
gunning for you. And they will! -Gone For Good-Comment
04/15/14:To -Morale
in the Toilet-, IBM executives have lost all respect for their employees.
Sam Ginny and Lou are corrupt greedy executives. As long as their is no union,
this greed and corruption will continue. Join the union so the younger IBM employees
will not have to deal with this corruption latter in their careers.
-ANA-Comment
04/15/14:-longtimebeemer-
Fidelity administers the plan for IBM. Each year I get a plan summary on
how the pension plan is doing. Your pension is guaranteed by the PBGC. If it
is sold off as an annuity it will no longer be insured by the PBGC. -samtheman-Comment
04/15/14:-Anon- I
think you misunderstood my point. You're obviously correct about UK's laws.
I was saying that IBM's Business Conduct Guidelines are IBM's rules for their
employees; BUT, the UK judge cited IBM for breaking it's own rules of conduct.
Notwithstanding the UK laws, IBM demonstrated that they don't respect their
own rules and break them to achieve their goals. In the US, many IBMers seem
to think that there are labor laws that protect employees from IBM executives
breaking IBM's own "rules". There are not. This was my point.
And I'm not wrong about it. The alternative is a union contract that is collectively
bargained for and contains specific rules that the company AND the workers agree
to adhere to. I totally agree with your statement that the UK's modicum of laws
were in play in this case; however, IBM in the USA is not restricted by as many
of those types of laws as they are in the UK. I was simply appealing to IBM
workers in the US, and saying that they need to organize and work to gain a
collectively bargained contract to protect themselves from IBM's shenanigans.
I hope that IBM's appeals re: the UK judge's ruling, are denied. Agreed?
-BlueEyedBlindness-Comment
04/15/14:Just FYI,
the previous rumor that the growth-driven profit sharing bonuses that Ginny
said would go to PBC 1's was not paid out on April 15. No, this is not some
inconsiderate person whining about their bonus while people get laid off, I'm
just reporting it because it's important here to provide information about our
devious company. I'd actually welcome a package myself, I work hard because
that's the ethic I was taught by may parents and the military, and I'm not a
butt-kisser. I'm anything but, and have been called on the carpet more than
a few times for saying it like it is, to both my management and our customers.
I'm in my mid-50's and just biding my time. I don't see anyone around me putting
in the effort they used to back around 2001, when we were all very energized.
I certainly don't work as hard as I used to and it's taking a toll on my conscience.
I just don't want to deal with switching and starting over with another company
at this point. So, I'll bide my time a little longer and see what shakes out.
-MoraleInTheToilet-Comment
04/15/14:@blueyedblindness:
you are just wrong. In the UK we have a modicum of laws that protect us.
I assume you are making the same mistake that CHQ made when dealing with the
UK and that "their" rules applied. The judge in 325 pages has made
it quite clear that they don't and IBM has to remedy it. To quote the judge
"Whether this is an appropriate way of dealing with HR relations in the
US, which is the culture with which CHQ, Mr Ferrar and Mr Chrystie were imbued,
I do not know. I do not find it an attractive or acceptable way to deal with
matters in England." Which, in our culture, is damning. -Anon-Comment
04/15/14:IBM doesn't
want to employ us. RA's, forced commercial/travel work, the retirement 2014
initiative, no variable pay in 2014, dropping appraisals, forcing PBC 3 by quota,
etc. All of these initiatives have made for a miserably demoralizing work environment,
and IBM knows it. They don't want to fix it. THEY WANT IT THIS WAY!
-Anonymous-Comment
04/14/14:For the estimated
3800 let go in the recent RA, I am one of them and am still in Blue Pages so
the 3800 is low. In fact, a few let go in July and Sept. were still in Blue
Pages when I left in March. -Suspect in NY-Comment
04/14/14:-samtheman- I
thought that was the way the pension already worked. If you are on the old plan
I believe that when you retire, IBM just purchased an annuity from Fidelity
that covers the monthly payment you are to receive for the rest of your life
and then you receive monthly payments from that annuity from Fidelity. I know
that my pension payments are all recorded in Netbenefits and sent to my bank
account by Fidelity Investments every month, not IBM. -longtimebeemer-Comment
04/14/14:-samtheman-http://pensionrisk.prudential.com/pdfs/pension-de-risking-strategies_0246293-00001-00.pdf
-anonymous-Comment
04/14/14:Got RA'd
today after 14 years in SWG. Was told I was part of the 2nd wave of cuts that
started in 1Q. I was really tired of the constant cuts and got a decent package
so I'm happy. Goodbye IBM. - Canned in Canada-Comment
04/14/14:21 years
with IBM, and left on my own accord for a much better job with much better pay
and benefits. I have lots of connections in the Hudson Valley and have heard
of 2 recent instances where NY employees were transferred to another state (CT)
and were immediately RA'd upon reassignment. The obvious inference is that this
is being done to reduce / avoid reporting these actions. Anyone else heard of
this. I would have never thought IBM would stoop this low, but nothing surprises
me anymore when it comes to this once great but now pathetic company....
- Happy To Be Gone From POK-Comment
04/14/14:Re: IBM UK exec
breaks IBM Business Conduct guidelines and a UK Judge points that out...Here's the lesson in a nutshell served up for all IBMers. Lesson: IBM did
not break any laws by breaking their own rules. The judge can make any comment
or judgment regarding IBM breaking their own rules..BUT the judge cannot impose
any punishment whatsoever. If IBM has broken UK laws, then yes, IBM can be judged
for that. But not if they break their own rules. Why did I bother mentioning
this? Because I've read several of the comments here and in the Alliance comments
"archives". Many of those comments demonstrate confusion, misinformation,
and outright naivety' about labor laws and internal corporate and business "rules".
That's why workers need to look through the entire Alliance@IBM web site and
read up on union contracts and what they stand for and who they protect, because
without one, IBMers are at the mercy of IBM execs that will even break their
own rules to have power over their employees jobs and lives. A contract shifts
that power to the workers. Organize and stand up together. It's the best move
you can make. -BlueEyedBlindness-
Alliance reply: Our web site has a great deal of information that can help IBM
workers organize and grow their numbers. We encourage all IBMers to use it.
And Alliance@IBM members dues and donations pay for its availability. Thank
you for commenting.Comment
04/14/14:IBM Earnings
Preview: Technically Better, Still Worried About Revenue Growthhttp://seekingalpha.com/article/2140313-ibm-earnings-preview-technically-better-still-worried-about-revenue-growth
-Anonymous-Comment
04/14/14:A long but
worthwhile read on 'Corporate Malfeasance & the Myth of Shareholder Value.'
A short excerpt to peak your interest: "The business-knowledge elite manipulates
the behavior of large corporations, enriching themselves (money managers and
institutional investors, securities analysts and bankers, and corporate executives)
by skimming profits from the pension reserves of workers and from the investments
of the lumpen bourgeoisie." Full paper here: http://scholar.harvard.edu/files/dobbin/files/2005_ppst_corpmal_zorn_0.pdf
-Won't get fooled again-Comment
04/14/14:When I was
at IBM, I guess I never realized how many companies used IBM as an industry
bellweather, copying everything they did, including their offshore "business"
model. It's really sad to see, and be a part of other companies hellbent on
circling the drain like IBM did. I used to believe that if you were an honest
capitalist, you'd eventually get to where you wanted to be through hard work.
IBM and many other companies have betrayed that honesty, and turned their back
on the very people who helped build them up. We need to unionize EVERYTHING
and take our country back. - Fed_Up_American-Comment
04/13/14:I'm sure
IBM is looking to unload it's pension obligations to a company like Prudential,
They can pay them a fixed sum to pay retiree annuities to replace pensions.
IBM still has to pay insurance premiums to the PBGC whose rates are going up
to sure up their funds. Look for many companies to unload their pension plans
-samtheman-Comment
04/13/14:RA (redundancy
in the UK) to start in IBM UK this quarter. Managers will be told "this
is how many people you can have in your team, decide who you are keeping".
Those that just escaped in 1Q will not be so lucky in 2Q. Quite what the clients
will make of this erosion coupled with the x86/networking sell off, the loss
of the court case, and the blatant breach of its own business conduct guidelines
to staff, trust is almost non-existent and you will not find an employee in
the UK that trusts IBM any longer. Fortunately as that does not show on the
balance sheet it really doesn't matter. -Anon-Comment
04/13/14:-new2rchland-,
my count of 3800 is US regulars only. The count is based on bluepages diffs.
-Anon-Comment
04/12/14:Executive
Pay: Invasion of the Supersalarieshttp://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/13/business/executive-pay-invasion-of-the-supersalaries.html
Browse the proxy statements of the nation's largest corporations
and you'll find the instruction manuals for this apparatus explaining how to
finely calibrate the pay of top executives with company performance. -Anon-Comment
04/12/14:Think your
pension is safe? Think again. The pensions of millions of Americans are being
threatened because of trouble in a part of the retirement world long considered
so safe that no one gave it a second thought.
The pensions belong to people in multiemployer plans - big pooled investment
funds with many sponsoring companies and a union. Multiemployer pensions are
not only backed by federal insurance, but they also were thought to be even
more secure than single-company pensions because when one company in a multiemployer
pool failed, the others were required to pick up its "orphaned" retirees.
Today, however, the aging of the work force, the decline of unions, deregulation
and two big stock crashes have taken a grievous toll on multiemployer pensions,
which cover 10 million Americans. Dozens of multiemployer plans have already
failed, and some giant ones are teetering - including, notably, the Teamsters'
Central States pension plan, with more than 400,000 members. In February, the
Congressional Budget Office projected that the federal multiemployer insurer
would run out of money in seven years, which would leave retirees in failed
plans with nothing.
http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2014/04/12/thought-secure-pooled-pensions-teeter-and-fall/-Anonymous-Comment
04/12/14:Why R U ALL
STILL WAITING FOR THE NEXT RA??? Do you learn anything from the IBM past???!
Has anyone counted up all the RAs? Why would anyone waste their time? They Happen
and they happen because IBMers let them happen! Wake Up. Think Twice. Organize.
Join the Union now. How long do you want to be a victim?? -IBMUnionNow-Comment
04/12/14:Anon, I was
the person who submitted the info on the RA in 2Q. My first line manager told
me and I consider it pretty reliable. I tried to ask questions, but he clammed
up. The folks under George Metz (GBS operations exec) are always on the chopping
block. Just a guess, but once that 2015 target is met, you'll see a slew of
execs cash out and leave. -Anon2-Comment
04/12/14:Found in
a fortune cookie: "The axe soon forgets, but the tree always remembers".
Sleep well Ginny...And to all the 'trees' out there. May you find better opportunities
than the ones IBM offered. -dun-4-Comment
04/12/14:I thought
the retirement gift was "cheesy" as well sent a note to HQ personnel..was
told IBM focuses their "nice" gift at quarter century time, smaller,
modest gift at retirement...just sayin... -Thefielder-Comment
04/12/14:Got my 25
in and called it quits for a better place. My gift selection was quite good.
Don't think they knew it was there....High end surround sound blue ray system..tube
outputs. Like 800 bucks retail. Likely not there any more but rounded out my
man cave well. Best thing I ever will remember from ibm. -gg-Comment
04/12/14:-SoGrim- did
your manager tell/notify HR Payroll properly you were staying an extra pay period?
Or did your manager just "forget"? once your resignation letter was
accepted? -anon-Comment
04/12/14:-retired/RAed-
as a regular employee, NO! You usually get nothing could lose any retirement
benefits. You could even be prosecuted by your former company for wrongdoings.
If you are an executive or middle management, even lower management, sometimes
possibly YES, you would get an "exit package" similar to a severance
with some strings attached or perhaps..it all depends of who you know and what's
in it for the company. They even have negotiation for these folks..not usually
available for the normal Joe or Jane employee. -FiredOrNot-Comment
04/12/14:I was laid
off from BTV in last summers layoff. Was retirement eligabile, didn't see much
in the gift catalog that appealed to me, picked a gold diamond ring that looked
nice in the picture. When I received it I was quite surprised, it looked like
a ring from a gumball machine, I could have squished it with two fingers. Threw
it in a bedside drawer, been sitting there ever since. - Retired2013-Comment
04/11/14:Next week
another RA. Either 4/15 or 4/16. They will just stay under the NY WARN act for
EF (250 minus the small # laid off in February as the number is cumulative for
90 rolling days. BTV won't fair as well. RA will be 500 - the February #. So
much for the Poughkeepsie Journal breaking news headline banner claiming Cuomo
struck a deal to save jobs. Cuomo tried to take credit for a deal struck last
June. Onward to $20 by 2015 Ginny! And don't forget your bonus for ridding the
company of the x86 low end servers. Sammy got a bonus for ridding the company
of the low margin PC business. I know that I'm not as smart as all the IBM executives
but I thought you get a bonus for turning around a division. Like making X86
more profitable. The best of luck to all those affected next week. Hold your
head high, you are better than these people. -Hold Your Head High-Comment
04/11/14:-Anonymous- is
your 3800 number a raw count or of regular employees? I saw a huge number of
vendors and contractors let go, but the US number appeared to be about half
of what you're saying. - new2rchland-Comment
04/11/14:Please tell
us more about the RA in 2Q in GBS. How credible is this? When exactly will it
happen? End of May? I am really hoping for an RA package and wondering if I
can trust my manager enough to ask for one. I don't have another job lined up
yet. It's just that I can't take it anymore. -Anon-Comment
04/11/14:-ANA- It's
colloquially called "precommitted incentives" basically nothing short
of IBM have a real downer of a year they get their bonuses guaranteed.
-anonymous-Comment
04/11/14:Watch IBM's
1st QTR earnings closely. If they have a soft or just above quarter expect another
RA. The only way IBM knows how to INNOVATE to create earnings! It's $20 EPS
and or bust...-nostradamus-Comment
04/11/14:As for the
"gifts," all junk so I didn't bother. -RAd Twice-Comment
04/11/14:Info- I was
told by NC Unemployment to file after my six month Sev-Period is over. $350.00
a week. Was $550.00 a week last year. New Law in NC. -Over55-Comment
04/11/14:Yo -gone-
We call it RAtirement -former BTV'r-Comment
04/11/14:When you
are fired for poor job performance, discrimation, passing trade secrets, contract
fixing, etc. do companies normally give out severance pay? - retired/RAed-Comment
04/11/14:-joe- I agree!
I looked at the gift catalogue before I left, and the gifts are CHEAP. After
30 years, is that all you are worth to IBM? $3.33/Year. Those gifts would be
more appropriate for IBM'ers celebrating their 10 year anniversary... I wonder
what gift Adkins picked? ha! - Retired/RA-Comment
04/11/14:Looks like
IBM tried to screw UK workers and lost. I suppose in the UK government and corp
doesn't join forces to screw the individual. Possibly.http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/04/09/ibm_pension_uk_high_court_breach/
-anon-Comment
04/11/14:@anon and
@joe, The gold watch I referred to is not solid gold... Probably just $100-200.
I wasn't trying to it was a big deal. It was just one of several indications
that I did retire, yet IBM had me recorded in there system as terminated, so
I didn't get my 401K match. With Fidelities help, we got it fixed so I was able
to get the $xxK I was owed. That was a big deal to me. -GoneIn13-Comment
04/10/14:It appears
that about 3800 US employees were impacted by this latest RA announced at the
end of February. -Anonymous-Comment
04/10/14:My manager
just told me another RA in GBS 2nd quarter. I don't know any other details.
-Anon-Comment
04/10/14:Dear -IsItorIsn't-,
It was an "RA" aka:firing, but since I had 35+ years, it became a
retirement. The package included a "covenant not to sue".Dear -JoePal-, No sweetheart deal. Typical RA/"firing"
package which has been unchanged for years, with a "covenant not to sue".
-gone-Comment
04/10/14:What the
IBM-Globalfoundries deal could mean for Fishkill and Essex plants:http://www.wcax.com/story/25207780/changes-at-ibm-could-mean-changes-here-in-vermont
-JustSaying-Comment
04/10/14:Dear
-Gone-, I suspect you got a sweetheart deal from IBM. Contracts or signed
agreements can always be questioned by courts. EEOC rights trump illegal employment
actions, imho. - JoePal-Comment
04/10/14:IBMs compensation
is designed for top executives. All top executives in IBM have a contract which
their compensation and benefit structure based on their contract. All IBM Employees
have no contract without a union. Without a union contract, IBM will continue
to shaft their employees in all areas of salary and compensation and benefits.
Lou, Sam and Ginny will continue to screw the IBM employee. Join the union.
-ANA-Comment
04/10/14:-Gone- So
everyone who agreed to take the RA severance agreed to be separated from IBM
and essentially accept being fired without cause? -IsItorIsn't-Comment
04/10/14:To -GoneIn2013-
Gold Watch in 13? I was let go and forced to retire at that point last
June. I googled just about all of the gifts in the catalogue and they ran about
100 bucks.... "big deal". -joe-Comment
04/10/14:Based on
Bluepages
Since Jan 2014- Down 4238 full time US employees.
Since Jan 2013 - Down 12,053 full time US employees. This does not count contractors.
-the sky really is falling-Comment
04/10/14:Was it ever
determined (or estimated) how many US based people were affected by the RA the
end of February? -curious-Comment
04/10/14:-@Anonymous-
in BTV Mike Cadigan (general manager of IBM Microelectronics division (makes
chips for STG in Fishill and Burlington), a part of the Systems and Technology
Group (STG) which makes the Z and P series mainframes, had a town hall in Fishkill,
NY on 4/8. The town hall was preceded by an All Managers meeting, with HR topics
on the agenda. In the employee Town Hall Cadigan brought up how Ginny made mention
in the Annual report that IBM is committed to hardware. He mentioned the 'rumors'
that were in the media about the Microelectronics Business being up for sale.
He even poked fun at the NY Times saying that there was even a story that said
that FaceBook was going to by IBM Microelectronics.
One brave soul asked him a very pointed question. I'll paraphrase the best I
can remember: 'Mike, you said that IBM is committed to hardware, but IBM said
that they were 100% committed to the x86 business right up until 2 weeks before
they sold the business to Lenovo. I tend to trust what I read in the NY Times
more than what I hear from our CEO'. Cadigan's reply was something along the
lines of "I wouldn't" , which I took to mean that he wouldn't trust
the NYTimes more than he would trust Ginny.
I don't have any idea what was discussed in the Manager only meeting other than
it was billed as a preview of what the employees would hear in the Town Hall
and that HR would be filling in managers on something.
I do think that the last piece of info that I got out of IBM HR that made my
life better was in the previous century, BOHIC again. He ended by saying that
if it should turn out that we get sold it would be good for us to be in as strong
a position as possible, so let's execute and don't be "distracted"
by the media stories. Anything notable in the Q&A in Burlington?-Blue_Flu_Lou-Comment
04/10/14:Dear Over55,
The paperwork I signed in 2013 said that I would not take legal action against
IBM once I received my severance. Did your paperwork say the same? If so, IBM
can take action against you. -Gone-Comment
04/09/14:I voluntarily
left the nightmare after almost 15 years. After giving two weeks notice and
staying an extra two weeks to help my manager, I found out that my two checks
prior to departing were held back, pending determination of whether I owed money--payment
was stopped AFTER I received the paystub. Seriously?? What company withholds
two paychecks after an employee volunteers to stay longer than they had to?
Without warning, I might add! Not a problem for me, fortunately. Be aware that
your paychecks may stop immediately once IBM knows you're leaving...even though
you're still working. -SoGrim-Comment
04/09/14:Thank you
for the "Anonymous" post on 3/4/14 regarding unemployment benefits
in CT. I learned that CT does not reduce unemployment due to severance pay IF
it required signing an agreement foregoing your rights. With respect to reducing
unemployment due to pensions, it depends on whether the employer contributed
anything in the "base period" in which they calculate potential unemployment
benefits. In my case, IBM stopped contributing to the old plan in 2007, years
before the base period. As a result, I received 26 weeks of retroactive benefits.
Every state is different, so check details carefully, appeal if necessary, and
provide a copy of the 2006 IBM press release:http://www-03.ibm.com/press/us/en/pressrelease/19090.wss
-Anonymous-Comment
04/09/14:You think you have a non-management
career in IBM? THINK TWICE. 95% of you will not make 10 years in IBM if hired
today UNLESS you make it to ER (Executive Resources) or kiss the right management
a$$ then 99% of you in fast track management will be around in IBM 25 years
from now. With a union you can have a career in IBM! -YaThink-Comment
04/09/14:To -GoneIn2013-
how did you get a gold watch? I retired last year and all the retirement gift
choices I saw were pretty underwhelming. -Anon-Comment
04/08/14:BTV employees
have been sent a note that Cadigan will be onsite 4/9/14, no agenda was given
for the talk. One can only assume he will dodge questions and claim that he
is being kept in the dark by the corporation and not answer any RA questions.
-Anonymous-Comment
04/08/14: I remember in the separation docs that
you can file an EEOC sit but wave the right for any monetary damages.
-samtheman-Comment
04/08/14:If STG sells
to Global (or someone else) can they just take away anybody's pension who isn't
retired yet without notice? Or is that illegal? From what I have heard it's
illegal, but they could give people a one time payment equal to the amount of
money in their account, provided they are vested or turn pension over to the
new company??? I'm wondering if I should bail out now from BTV as I'm vested
? I know in the past IBM has rolled the pension over to new company. Without
a union to speak for us and my lack of trust in IBM.. I need to make a decision.
-Anonymous-Comment
04/08/14:If STG sells
to Global (or someone else) can they just take away anybody's pension who isn't
retired yet without notice? Or is that illegal? From what I have heard it's
illegal, but they could give people a one time payment equal to the amount of
money in their account, provided they are vested or turn pension over to the
new company??? I'm wondering if I should bail out now from BTV as I'm vested
? I know in the past IBM has rolled the pension over to new company. Without
a union to speak for us and my lack of trust in IBM.. I need to make a decision.
-Anonymous-Comment
04/08/14:I can't believe
I've been gone 7 years and nothing has changed on this site. Everybody still
talking about their PBC rating which is a sham, how badly they are treated,
and low morale. 7 years and nothing has changed. For those left at IBM, you
only have 2 choices. If you really want to stay at IBM, you have to stand up
and fight for your rights. The only way is to organize and unionize. Otherwise
you have no chance. Your second choice is to leave before they throw you out
onto the street and find a job some place else. Those are your two choices.
What's it gonna be? -Gone_in_07-Comment
04/08/14:To -RAd
2014-: In my day (2010), a "Bridge to Retirement" was an UNPAID
leave of up to one year, until the date you would be eligible for retirement.
Severance was separate from the bridge and followed the usual "2 weeks
per year of service". Eligibility for UI varies by state, so would depend
on how Florida regards severance. It would be best to check with a lawyer. To
-Over55-: Bravo for filing with EEOC! Let us know how it works out.
-Gorya-Comment
04/08/14:To -RAed
in Florida-, Florida has a one week waiting period after a layoff and then
counts the number of weeks severance as pay. So if you had 4 weeks severance,
you would have to wait 1 + 4 = 5 weeks before collecting an unemployment check.
Since you are bridging to retirement, you probably are receiving 26 weeks of
severance, so you have to wait 27 weeks to collect unemployment (so the 2nd
week in October)."IBM Retirement" means little/nothing to Florida's
unemployment system. -anon in Florida-Comment
04/08/14:To>>-Floridian->>You
must not be an IBMer or you would know that IBM DOES NOT PAY YOU while you are
on a IBM BRIDGE to RETIREMENT. Payment would come via a separate Separation
Package. -HUGGIE-Comment
04/08/14:Insightful
commentary on IBM/GlobalFoundries deal: http://www.itjungle.com/tfh/tfh040714-story06.htmlHere are two snips from that article: ...To make it plain and simple:
IBM made the choice to put financial engineering ahead of real chip engineering,
and now it is suffering the consequences... ...IBM's chip plant in Burlington,
Vermont, is pretty old in terms of the process technology it uses, and therefore
it is not worth all that much except for the skilled workforce and government
permits it has to operate in the area... (if true, then it seems that IBM is
shooting itself in the foot by firing many of its skilled BTV workforce)
-JustSaying-Comment
04/08/14:@SoonToGo, I
left voluntarily in September 2013, after 30+ years (no package), and had quite
an ordeal getting my 401K match. I called Fidelity after I didn't get it in
30 days as I was originally told. They said to wait until 12/31... nothing.
Then started an inquiry and found I was listed in IBM system as terminated,
not retired. I had a retirement letter from Ginni, a gold watch, and had a retirement
dinner??? Fidelity was able to get this corrected and I finally got my match,
plus a true up on lost gains during that period. So don't trust them to get
it right without "help". I suspect my manager did something wrong
when I left, because she hadn't ever handled someone leaving voluntarily...
only RAs. -GoneIn2013-Comment
04/08/14:The Jan 2014
OSHA notice in Bldg 001 in RTP shows 5171 employees. The 500 complex may be
separate. I'm sure OSHA expects those notices to be placed in a prominent location,
such as near the main entrance or cafeteria. IBM puts it in by a back door near
the computer center. -Anon-Comment
04/08/14:I really
think if the US govt does it's due diligence on the Lenovo deal they will kill
the deal. First, IBM got rid of all the experienced high-priced technical people
to make the numbers look good, they could care less about the people, Lenovo,
the customer base, or national security. It was primarily to make Q2 system
x look good. Finally, forget about the Chinese putting in back doors in firmware,
all they need to do is delay some patches and/or bug fixes during a critical
time and they could cripple the capabilities of the large clusters of x86 systems
and thus indirectly control some of these key systems that the our government
agencies depend on. Do you think the US will get higher priority than the North
Korean friends when it comes to support calls? -Concerned-Comment
04/07/14:-Over55- I
tried but my papers disappeared during 9/11 since they went to the EEOC there...
If you file with EEOC I don't think it carries much weight legally unless you
have a so-called "slam dunk" case. It can't hurt to try though...
-I'veBeenMaligned-Comment
04/07/14:To Over55:
I believe the EEOC process is a two step process, but I could be wrong... The
first step is to file a formal complaint against IBM for age discrimination.
Filing a compliant is different from an actual age discrimination lawsuit, which
you aren't suppose to do, if you signed that agreement, and took the severance
package. - Retired/RA-Comment
04/07/14:Filed with
EEOC today for age discrimination. What are the odds that anything will come
from it. We all know IBM wants and does Ra Older workers with time in the company
to save money. Also can IBM come back at me? I did have to sign the document
on my last day in order to get paid. -Over55-Comment
04/07/14:To: RA'd
in 2014 (in Florida). A bridge to retirement is simply a severance pay that
continues paying you until your future retirement date instead of until a time
calculated by the formula "2 weeks per year of service". Since you
will be receiving money from your employer until Nov, 2014, you are not eligible
for any unemployment benefits during this period. You can apply for UI benefits
after November if you are actively looking for a job then. -Floridian-Comment
04/07/14:@ihateibm
- No Lump sum from the severance pay does not affect UI in Texas. Apply as soon
as you can. -anon-Comment
04/07/14: Poor Ginny only $15.4 million. She
and Lou and Sam continue to RA employees while ripping off USIBM employees and
retirees. IBM needs a union to stop this corporate greed and corruption. The
only thing that will stop this corruption is when the union calls a strike and
all IBM employees go out on strike. That will be the best day in IBM employees
history. Join the Union -ANA-Comment
04/07/14:Received
a call this (Monday) morning from "Joelle," who "represents a
financial and regulatory investigatory firm" seeking to file some sort
of class-action suit against IBM, and is seeking information from former employees
of same. CallerID returned "Operator 0" on my phone. Is this legit?
And, if legit, is it related to the weebly link posted previously? -SimpleMath-Comment
04/07/14:Israel media
is reporting major layoffs in IBM Haifa Research labs:http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=y&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.calcalist.co.il%2Finternet%2Farticles%2F0%2C7340%2CL-3628470%2C00.html&edit-text=
-ExIBMer-Comment
04/07/14:Let me give
you an insider view of IBM Burlington where I work and what's been happening
amid recently job cuts. We've loss a good portion of our staff, due to the last
"Resource Action", and with talks about another Resource Action coming
on April 15, 2014 (I'm surprised there hasn?t been more talk of it). I'm told
this RA is being performed to reduce the headcount for the eventual GlobalFoundries
sale. I can't handle working here anymore, each day living in fear
as to whether I'll keep my job. Many of my colleagues have also resigned or
like myself are looking for new jobs outside of IBM. I was shocked to see so
many subject matter experts leaving the company for new opportunities. I discourage
any new hire from taking a job in Burlington, because they don't raise your
salary very much each year since our market doesn't have many engineers and
they use that to justify 0-1% raises. Everyone in Burlington is demoralized
and morale is reaching 0%. Management during the resource action has been appalling.
They have tried to justify it with every excuse you can think of. From what
I can tell many people are RAed because management is trying to silence employees
that speak up and question their aimless strategy. A second line manager (formerly
a third line) in the Fab had an employee RAed because of a personal vendetta
against him. The employee was a above average 2+ performer, and complained to
IBM HR, but despite the manager behaving unethically and breaking the business
conduct guidelines he will go unpunished. I often wonder to myself why he is
not RAed he routinely shows up late to meetings, he is clueless on most matters
that impact our clients, and he doesn?t know anything about the Fab processes.
Clients have said that they prefer not to deal with our second line manager
because he has zero credibility. He also tries to shift the blame to other employees
in his organization, and hides the mismanagement in his area from the director
of the 200 mm fab, and the VP of semiconductor operations.My
first line managers drink the Kool-Aid and will do whatever upper level management
wants them to do. I wouldn't want to be in their position, because any manager
that speaks ups is immediately punished. During our recent layoffs the only
manager to get the ax was one that spoke up to our directors and told them their
strategy was wrong. Working in this division of IBM is just absolute punishment.-BTV Nightmare-Comment
04/06/14:Just received
a random survey from IBM called "Global Integrity Survey".... "Dear IBMer,
You have been randomly selected for participation in the IBM Global Integrity
Survey.
This survey is voluntary and, as all surveys are in IBM, it is completely anonymous
- all personal information submitted becomes anonymous at time of submission.
This survey is conducted in accordance with IBM Employee Survey Review Board
guidelines and IBM survey policy, and is being hosted on an IBM approved external
website. Your opinion is very important to us. Survey results will be used to
identify areas for improvement within our compliance programs...."There is no integrity at the executive level or even 2nd line management
and up. Do they really need a survey to find a clue?? omg - Clueless
in Armonk-Comment
04/06/14:To Observer:
the EFK 2013 OSHA form says 3675 avg employees. -Anon2-Comment
04/06/14:Perhaps we
should take up a collection?Study Finds BofA's Moynihan, IBM's Rometty Among Underpaid CEOs"Another CEO who came in as slightly underpaid was IBM's Virginia Rometty.
IBM is among a number of companies that have strived in recent years to closely
tie performance to compensation. Rometty's going rate, according to Crystal,
was $15.4 million, though she took home around 9.5 percent less."http://wallstcheatsheet.com/business/study-finds-bofas-moynihan-ibms-rometty-among-underpaid-ceos.html/
-anon-Comment
04/06/14:One of the
worst managed company. Moreover STG is handled worst. No plans for employee
retention. They are putting all the resigned list into RA list. Don't know what
they want to show to the world..Company speaks of Ethics, Trust and so on..
But doesn't live up to that... -Anonymous-Comment
04/05/14:The idea
of Lenovo buying IBM's server unit doesn't sit well with the FBI.
Not long ago, Lenovo announced its plans to buy IBM's low-end server business
for $2.3 Billion / $1.69 Billion, but not everyone is as enthused
about the idea as the company itself. In fact, some US higher-ups are very worried.
Major infrastructure and telecommunication companies always need to subject
themselves to close scrutiny by the government. After all, government agencies
themselves rely on their services, both for carrying out their job and for doing
so in a secure fashion. Many of IBM's servers are used by the Pentagon, the
FBI and US telecoms, and it is experts from IBM that are often called in to
deal with system failures, security issues and the like. After all, customer
support is an integral part of such a company's business.http://news.softpedia.com/news/Letting-Lenovo-Buy-IBM-s-Server-Unit-Could-Threaten-US-National-Security-Bloomberg-436000.shtml
-Anonymous-Comment
04/05/14:He's probably
wishing he didn't buy all that IBM stock. "A new statistical analysis of Mr. Buffett?s long-term record
at Berkshire Hathaway has just been done, for four of the last five years, Mr.
Buffett has been doing worse than the typical, no-frills Standard & Poor?s
500-stock index fund ? so much worse that it's unlikely to be a matter of a
string of bad luck. Mr. Buffett has begun to behave like an investor with no
alpha at all."
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/06/business/the-oracle-of-omaha-lately-looking-a-bit-ordinary.html
-anonymous-Comment
04/05/14:I was RAd
3/31/14 but Brdged to retirement 11/30/14. In Florida, can I collect un-employment?
Question is since this was not voluntary is un-employment available to me now?
- RAd 2014-Comment
04/05/14:4th April
2013. Mr Justice Warren's judgement of IBM UK in the UK High Court of Justice.
700 UK IBMers left IBM as a result of pension changes (Project Waltz.) Seehttp://www.smartpensionsuk.co.uk/index.php/139/1208/trustee-update-project-waltz-legal-proceedingsandhttp://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Ch/2014/980.htmlandhttp://www.smartpensionsuk.co.uk/index.php/139/1276/changes-to-the-trustee-board
-UK IBM retiree-Comment
04/05/14:-SoontToGo- I
was separated on July 15th 2013 and retired on August 1st 2013. The IBM Matching
401k for 2013 was deposited Sept 30th 2013, and included the 401k match from
Jan 1st 2013 through July 15th 2013. My full 401k remains at Fidelity Investments.
I don't have any reasons to move it elsewhere. -dja-Comment
04/05/14:About East
Fishkill: Once we see at least ONE RA related to the 300MM Fab then we will
know... -FishFooled-Comment
04/05/14:To -No_Respect_For_The_Individual-:
When I finally told my family that I was retiring from IBM, because I was
laid off, the reaction was"wow! I thought IBM was run better than that!".
I had given them some insight into what was happening inside the company...
info that I had not previously shared. I think IBM still has mindshare that
it is a well run company, but we all know it's not the same company anymore,
where decisions are made by the paper pushing accountants who know nothing about
Technology, yet they are the ones who make technology decisions for IBM now.
-Perceptions-Comment
04/05/14:RA'd after
38 years. I was able to retire, but the timing was not mine. I need 2 more years
of employment. Question about unemployment in Texas. Does anyone know, with
the lump sum retirement from IBM, does that kill eligibility for unemployment
checks in Texas? - ihateibm-Comment
04/05/14:Pension ruling
in UK..."The Judge also concluded that the way in which IBM announced,
consulted, and implemented the Project Waltz changes was in breach of its Imperial
duty of good faith to its employees, and that IBM also breached its implied
contractual duty of trust and confidence of its employees.""The Judge has also found that the consultation process was not
carried out in a way which was open and transparent and in accordance with IBM's
own philosophy as set out in the Business Conduct Guidelines and Core Values
to "avoid misrepresentation" and to engender "trust and personal
responsibility in all relationships". He concluded that this constituted
a breach of duty and of the consultation regulations. In particular, the business
reasons for Project Waltz presented to employees were limited to the operational
improvements and savings needed as part of the UKI Transformation, and did not
make clear IBM Corporation's requirement for the UK to deliver pension savings
as part of the IBM?s 2010 earnings per share roadmap."http://www.smartpensionsuk.co.uk/index.php/139/1277/trustee-update-project-waltz-legal-proceedings-4-april-2014
-Anon-Comment
04/05/14:To -In
The Know-: I was RA'ed but was Retirement eligible. I live in Virginia
and applied for unemployment benefits. Wasn't sure if it would go through or
not, since I indicated that I have applied for pension distributions (new plan).
Much to my surprise, I do qualify for 26 weeks of unemployment benefits, per
the letter I got from the State of VA today. - Retired/RA'ed-Comment
04/05/14:To -SoontToGo-:
It took about 2.5 months to receive the match. My last day on the active payroll
was 7/12 and I actually saw the match around Labor Day. No pun intended.
-Anonymous-Comment
04/05/14:The FAB sales
may be the best thing for people still working in those areas. Having a company
that would be willing to invest again in semiconductors would be refreshing,
much like the way IBM invested in selling ASICs on the open market 20 years
ago. -Still_Blue-Comment
04/04/14:In order
to get the magic $20 EPS, the latest rumor is that all technical sellers in
SWG will go back on a leveraged pay plan for 2nd half. Mgmt is trying to sell
this as a wonderful thing....think about all the extra money you will make.
What they don't say is that quotas will be cranked up accordingly so most will
make far less than their pay before. Given the mass firings, 401 match down
to once a year, etc., there is no way IBM would increase their payroll costs.
Sure, a select few will come out ahead, but 90% will lose in this "deal".
Many I know are looking to get out now. This is all so pathetic.... -
RoadKill_2015_Lives_Again-Comment
04/04/14:Net body
count for GBS Australia Q1 wa 550ish including RA's, voulantary leavers and
the few hiring tickets. Q2 round is pending. And the pipeline looks poor worst
I've seen in thr last few years. -Ozzie GBS Gal-Comment
04/04/14:potential
Sale of EFK: I thought you can start up a Biz in NY State and get a 10 year
tax break. So why can't IBM work the deal? Shut down for a day reorg and then
apply for the deal..-FishFool-Comment
04/04/14:For the reference
to IBM managers requesting employees to not talking about pay. This is illegal
see below. Provide the Alliance with details
VERMONT'S EQUAL PAY ACT
In 2002 Vermont adopted an equal pay law,theEqualPayAct. Whodoesitapply to?
Any employer, employment agency, labor organization, or any person seeking Vermont
employees. What does it mean? It is illegal to pay wages to employees of one
sex at a rate less than the rate paid to employees of the other sex for equal
work that requires equal skill, effort, and responsibility under similar working
conditions.
Employers cannot require employees to sign a wage non-disclosure agreement or
make employees agree not to disclose their wages as a condition of employment.
Employees are protected from discipline, discharge, or any retaliatory act for
disclosing their own wage. In 2005 Vermont adopted a Wage Disclosure Law. What
does it mean?
Employees can disclose and discuss their wages without fear of discipline, discharge,
or retaliation.
Write Down What Happened. Were you offered a lower starting salary, or did you
discover that you are being paid less than a co-worker? Were you disciplined
or discharged because you disclosed your wage to a co-worker? Unequal pay also
violates federal law.
Find Out How Others Have Been Treated At Your Workplace. Share information with
co-workers on ways to improve pay, benefits, promotion opportunities, work schedules
and other working conditions. Vermont's law is similar to the federal Equal
Pay Act passed in 1963 which is enforced by the federal Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission (EEOC). The Vermont Attorney General's office notifies EEOC of complaints
that involve the federal law.
Talk to Your Employer. Check your employee handbook for procedures for filing
a grievance or resolving a problem. Put your complaint in writing.
EMPLOYEES
Decide Whether to File A Charge. The Vermont Attorney General has the authority
to investigate complaints of wage discrimination and to seek civil penalties
and damages from employers who violate the equal pay law. Damages are usually
double the individual's unpaid wages.
How Does The Equal Pay Law Work For You? Vermont employees have the right to
equal pay for equal work.
Equal work means work that requires equal, but not identical, skill, effort,
and responsibility, and is performed under similar working conditions. It is
unlawful for an employer to retaliate against you for filing a complaint with
the Attorney General's Office. Employees can be paid different wages when the
difference is a result of:
* A seniority system;
* A merit system;
To file a complaint of wage discrimination, contact the Attorney General's Civil
Rights Intake Unit: Pavilion Building, 109 State Street, Montpelier, VT 05609;
(888) 746-9195 (VT only) or (802) 828-3657; or file online at www.atg.state.vt.us/issues/discrimination.
* A system in which earnings are based on quantity or quality of production;
-Anonymous-Comment
04/04/14:To "Soontogo"
I retired effective 11/30/2013 (not part of RA, although I volunteered in 2012
and 2013), I received my matching 401K within 1 week, in fact before the normal
12/15 date and I still had my 401K with Fidelity, I transferred it out of IBM
in late December -new2013retiree-Comment
04/04/14:Maryland's
governor blamed IBM and its software for the website's technical problems.
"We take responsibility for fixing this, and we'll see IBM in court,"
O'Malley said.IBM said in a statement that it went beyond its contractual obligations
to help Maryland meet enrollment goals and that state officials didn't properly
manage the exchange.-Anon-Comment
04/04/14:Lenovo's
bid for IBM server unit reportedly sparks national security concernshttp://www.theverge.com/2014/4/4/5582446/lenovo-ibm-server-deal-reported-national-security-concerns
-Anon-Comment
04/04/14:More cuts
in Brazil today, Sales Transaction Support. Bid Manager roles being transitioned
to GDCs. About 15 folks were cut this morning and more to come in the next months
as more positions are being trained in Hortolandia center. -anon-Comment
04/04/14:Thanks IBM
for laying me off. It was tough in the beginning, but found my self in the process
and understood my value is much higher then what IBM used to make plus got separation
of course ;) -H1B laidoff-Comment
04/04/14:Heard on
a call this afternoon that there was a RA announced this morning that affected
S&D where a number of Client Execs were affected that supported some large
core accounts. -IBMer again-Comment
04/04/14:Lenovo-IBM Deal
Probed by U.S. Over Servers at PentagonLenovo Group Ltd. must convince government officials that buying a server
unit from International Business Machines Corp won't give China back-door access
to U.S. secrets and infrastructure.http://www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2014-04-04/lenovo-ibm-deal-probed-by-u-s-over-servers-at-pentagon.html
-Anon-Comment
04/04/14:"Received
1% salary TCR effective 4/1. After tax's breaking it down to a weekly amount,
it barley covers the cost of coffee and a bagel per day."
Are you an Alliance member? If so great. If not, why not take your piddly TCR
from generous IBM and join now? It is only $0.165 a day to join the Alliance
as an associate member. And it costs only $0.493 a day to join as a full-time
Alliance voting member. - IBMUnionYES-Comment
04/04/14:Let me TRY
TO understand something: Once you are RAed from IBM you no longer work for or
are not employed with IBM. Period. So how can severance pay be considered any
way close to earned pay (work for compensation, i.e. PAY in legal tender)? If
IBM is going to report severance pay as "work income" then they have
to again announce age and numbers of those getting severance pay during an RA
or drive by!!! What is happening in this country and with the USA Congress who
does next to nothing?? It is getting worse than absurd! God bless America. How
about God PLEASE SAVE America!-IBM$ucks-Comment
04/04/14:article on
possible sale of IBM EFhttp://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303847804579479761230448366
-anon-Comment
04/04/14:http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/article/20140404/BUSINESS01/304040035/Report-says-IBM-selling-chip-branchReport says IBM selling chip branch East Fishkill plant's
future seems uncertain again -Anon-Comment
04/04/14:Only IBM
innovation left is how to do financial engineering to try to boost EPS at all
cost. Is it also innovation how to wreck a corporation by these RAs? Haven't
seen too many of those Smarter Planet campaign commercials lately. I guess those
folks who say "I am an IBMer" can't say that anymore since they probably
have been RAed... -IneffectiveBusinessMeanderings-Comment
04/03/14:Kiss Burlington,
Fishkill, good bye: "Globalfoundries Inc. has emerged as the lead candidate to buy International
Business Machines Corp.'s IBM -0.44% semiconductor manufacturing operations,
people familiar with the matter said. IBM has also held talks with chip makers
Intel Corp. and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. these people said. TSMC
has dropped out of the talks, the people said. Intel is still involved, but
Globalfoundries appears to have a stronger interest, these people said. Talks
between IBM and Globalfoundries are ongoing and a deal isn't imminent, these
people said. The transaction involves thorny issues, including control of intellectual
property and terms under which the ultimate buyer of the facilities may keep
manufacturing chips for IBM computers, they added. Price is also another sticking
point, with IBM initially asking for more than $2 billion and bidders coming
in north of $1 billion, the people said."http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303847804579479761230448366
-Anon-Comment
04/03/14:Question
for retires in 2013 that left before Dec. When did you receive your 401K match,
when you left, or in December like everyone else? Had you transferred your 401K
out of Fidelity previously, if so how was the match handled? -SoontToGo-Comment
04/03/14:Rumors that
IBM will start reporting severence pay as salary in all states. Good luck with
filing for unemployment if that is true. -In The Know-Comment
04/03/14:Well sad
to say Netbenefits does not let you run numbers for Pension since Iam no longer
with the company/Retired as Ginny would put it. You now have to work with Fidelity
who just wants you done with them. -Over55-Comment
04/03/14:To Exodus-2007
- Maryland isn't the only state blaming IBM for healthcare site failures. Minnesota
has blasted IBM as well. Way to go IBM...keep up the good work.. RA all the
senior workers with experience, then let the junior-less experienced workers
run the show.http://blogs.wsj.com/cio/2014/01/08/minnesota-governor-blasts-ibm-for-state-health-exchange-troubles/
-dun-4-Comment
04/03/14:I was wondering
if anyone has heard of addition resource actions at IBM Canada this year for
reg employees? -Anon-Comment
04/03/14:@temp@ibm Received
1% salary TCR effective 4/1. After tax's breaking it down to a weekly amount,
it barley covers the cost of coffee and a bagel per day. Looking at place in
the salary range info, competitive? After years just off bottom end. Insulting
to say the least. -Anon-Comment
04/03/14:Well, some
of us are in crap-hole areas of the company where it's nearly impossible to
get better than a 2 these days, and we've seen our organizations offshore to
80%+ and seen many colleagues RA'ed over the last 5 years, so yeah, it's annoying
to hear complaints about bonuses from areas of the company where the grass just
happens to be greener by sheer LUCK. Your manager doesn't want you to talk about
your bonus since it is the same as bragging about being a 1 performer, given
that we all know only 1 performers are getting the bonus. Many of us have had
years where we deserved a 1 but got a 2+ and years where we deserved a 2+ and
got a 1. It's LUCK, about 90% of the time - right place, right time, opportunity,
visibility, and LUCK. -Anon-Comment
04/03/14:I've heard
from a few folks that management has been saying the following. "at some
point money is irrelevant, it's about the people you work with". What a
bunch of BS. There's no money, ALL of the talent is leaving, and they treat
us like $#!+... I don't see IBM recovering from this.... -Anonymous
Coward-Comment
04/02/14:Unfortunately
this round is not over . The names of people in NY state left out because of
the deal with the governor are being revised now. Once legal gives the ok those
people will be Ra/fired like the rest of us. -Anon-Comment
04/02/14:-da_facts- Actually,
public perception about IBM is probably neutral bordering on unfavorable. While
people may not see the rampant mismanagement we do, they're not seeing any distinguishing
innovations either. Very little differentiates IBM from any other bloated corporation.
-Ano Nymous-Comment
04/02/14:Talking about
bonuses on a "job cuts report" forum is much like Ginny saying she's
forgoing her bonus. It's a punch in the gut for the RA'd people. There's allot
of people on this forum who just lost their job. -No_Respect_For_The_Individual-Comment
04/02/14:Don't talk
about bonus or raises. Boy is that funny. A local manager has asked that the
employees receiving a Top Contributor adjustment to not talk to other employees
about it. They feel that talking about the top contributor pay raise would make
moral even lower than it already is. Make any excuse you can to keep employees
from talking to each other about what is wrong here. Yes, I got a top contributor
adjustment and I AM A VERY PUBLIC MEMBER OF THE ALLIANCE. I am also very much
aware that a few more of us will be tapped by the end of April.
-Got Mine-Comment
04/02/14:Maryland
Governor blames IBM by name on Fox45 local news for Maryland's Healthcare website
failure. Says we will see IBM in court. -Exodus2007-Comment
04/02/14:To: -Jobless
and now broke- As you'll see reading through the rest of the forum, you
weren't really laid off - you were fired. Sorry. -Anon-Comment
04/01/14:"All the
people who the managers are scared of, get a raise so they don't go running
off to second level"Maybe. But more likely this is the scenario now: IBM Directors usually
hold the budget so ultimately has to approve the raises. That IBM Director,
if a male, is now playing golf somewhere since it is Spring and the country
clubs are open. So generally forget about a raise being approved in time!-anonymous-Comment
04/01/14:-Surreal feeling-
Like lambs to the future slaughter... New Hire Orientation is New Hire
Brainwashing except I don't think IBM can afford the new test flavor of their
Kool-Aid! They have to use every last $0.001 to getting to EPS $20.
- BigBlew-Comment
04/01/14:IBM is still
living off of the vast public perception that it is a stellar company to work
for. Most of the public still believes it. The public largely doesn't even hear
a peep of IBM layoffs in the USA. So the public still thinks IBM has a stable
workforce where you can work a career there if you want. Nothing is farther
than the truth. This IBM is far from your father or mother's IBM! Bad news with
IBM is released and watered down in sanitized spin press releases. So IBM's
good perception is still existing, though eroding slowly due to the younger
souls now around. Once the perception is gone so will IBM.-da_facts-Comment
04/01/14:To -Jobless
and now broke- I guess you didn't believe us when you this forum told you:
"RA = FIRED"! There is no plan to bring you back. -Huggie-Comment
04/01/14:To -Surrealfeeling-.
You have a group of new hires. I have not seen a new hire in our group
in years. -stillatIBM-Comment
04/01/14:Yesterday
was my last Day at IBM Germany. It's a strength feeling. But I am not unhappy
as the outlook for new jobs/opportunities are really bad. I've never understood
the companiy strategy to reduce skilled people in major European contries while
increasing it in Asia. Who is our customer? Regards, -WH-Comment
04/01/14:I'm a z FTSS
(or CTS) who was RA'd. I think IBM is making a mistake in believing that they
can depend on Business Partners to sell IBM products for them. For years I've
seen people in the field working hard to help sell BP proposals. In one account
I am aware of (and I believe there are others) all the selling was done by IBM
and the BP just took the order. Now with the co-sell model, more of the selling
responsibilities will have to be performed by the BPs because the IBMers who
back stopped them are no longer there, and the ones who are left are spread
too thin to cover all the customers. And despite what IBM management might want
to believe, the BPs follow the path of least resistance. If they are trying
to sell IBM storage, and the customer is leaning towards a competitor, with
no IBMer working with them and the customer, the BP will gladly and happily
sell the competitive product. They have neither the time nor the inclination
to invest the resources in a customer that it takes to convince them that IBM
has the better product.-anonymous-Comment
04/01/14:To -MarchRetire?-
These folks didn't all retire on 3/31 of their own free will. They were
RA'd and were either retirement eligible or were close enough to bridge to it.
The fact is, they were RA'd. Calling it retirement is marginally better but
I bet if you asked them in private, they would tell you they were RA'd... they
were probably glad to get the severance and be gone, although it wasn't on a
schedule of their choosing. -LowlySDM-Comment
03/30/14:Today was
my last day at IBM. As I was walking in for the last time, it was sort of strange
seeing the weekly group of new hires lining up for New Hire Orientation. IBM
doesn't want you unless you are paid a very low salary. Sales teams were swarming
the building trying to close stuff for the quarter. Funny that for the other
~89 days of the quarter, you don't see them around, working with such a feverish
pace. -Surreal feeling-Comment
03/30/14:Here is a
comment from about 2005 that was posted in one of Alliance's "Archive Visitors
Comments" section. Looks like even upper management was not happy about
what IBM was doing to its workers:"As a third line manager in RTP with over 25 years of service
with IBM, I find it unconscionable, that I am asked to stand before a group
of employees and announce that we are creating a new career position for my
operation and how exciting this is for all of us.
What isn't said outright is that there will only be a limited number of these
positions open to the current population, and as soon as they are filled you
can certainly count on the rest of what Corporate now considers the back office
work will move to Brazil. When does all this stop? How long can we hide this
from our customers as we have tried to do for the past year? I am afraid that
Sam is going to box this company into a position that we will all regret in
years to come. -Anonymous-Editor's note: Alliance@IBM has no way
of knowing whether or not these comments are actually from a 3rd level manager.
However, our members and supporters have been making these same observations
for some time. IBM needs to stop Offshoring...."-BlueEyedBlindness-Comment
03/30/14:I applied
for North Carolina unemployment about 2 weeks after I was laid off (July 2013).
I received it for about 3 months and was then notified that I have to REPAY
all (~$4K!). Before filing my first claim, I read/researched when I can apply
and many sites state that since you didn't receive an ongoing check (just one
all inclusive check for the 6 months), then you can claim benefits. When I contacted
them, they told me I cannot claim that time because my check included those
months. What's going on here? I'm reading more and more about IBMers being able
to file claims immediately so are they discriminating against me? They will
not budge on this so what do I do??? - ifeelcheated-Comment
03/30/14:Just got
laid off after only 9 months on the job, and when I received my severance checks,
surprise surprise, they took out over 2000 because of the mobility package.
When I signed the contract , it stated I would have to pay back if I quit or
was fired, but they laid me off. Can anyone explain how they can legally do
this? -Jobless and now broke-Comment
03/30/14:"There is
really no career planning progression to 90% of the workforce except for the
execs." AMEN! Stultification IBM style? We need a union contract with defined career
paths and progressions. -IBMUnionYES-Comment
03/30/14:"Why was
I so gullible to not think the new plan would NOT give me the same or more money
at retirement (unless perhaps if interest rates had skyrocketed."YOU were not the only one hoodwinked by IBM! Well, IBM tried to "sell"
the cash balance plan to just about EVERYONE as being a "cost neutral"
conversion implementation meaning it didn't hurt the future retiree based on
a 6% average yearly return on the cash balance account which IBM supposedly
"front loaded". IBM also said they did not do it to save money originally
and then said it saved about $200M in "administrative costs" by switching
to a cash balance pension plan from the defined benefit plan. P.S. the YTD return
for the cash balance plan is now only 1.1%... The formula is USA T-bill rate
+ 1% still. -da_facts-Comment
03/30/14:I just had
3 very experienced guys in my dept. retire today on 3/31/2014. 1 seemed overjoyed
while 2 others did not seem too happy about it. But I have no other information
about it. I was wondering if anyone could elaborate on what IBM did here? Thanks.
-MarchRetire?-Comment
03/30/14:Folks are
losing their jobs and people are complaining about bonuses. Alliance - why don't
you create another forum so people can talk about their bonuses amongst themselves?
After all, isn't this forum titled"Job Cuts Reports"? -No_Respect_For_The_Individual-
Alliance reply: We won't be creating any separate forums to talk about bonuses.
We do agree with your point, though. However, it might be a way for IBMers to
recognize what's more important for all IBMers' future: Organize first and then
collectively bargain. Worry about bonuses last.Comment
03/30/14:IBM can't
even communicate details of an RA anymore. And now about the GDP situation:
I can see effective COMMUNICATION IS NOT in Ms. Ginni's makeup. She has got
to work on being clear to even appear articulate. And unless she gets effective
communications crash course lessons right now the Stockholder's Meeting might
be interesting to HEAR! I guess IBM HR communications staff suffers the same
malady (whoever is left in Armonk for communications besides "Talking Head
Doug Shelton"). -anon-Comment
03/30/14:Corporate
America's switch to private health-care exchanges could be a bigger deal than
Obamacare. Are you ready for private health-insurance exchanges? Some of the
biggest employers in the U.S. "AT&T, DuPont, General Electric, IBM,
Time Warner, and Walgreens" have started to shift the management of health-care
costs onto their employees. Increasingly, workers must use so-called private
health-care exchanges, self-directed marketplaces in which they can select their
coverage and pay for it via a contribution from their employer. While small
and midsize companies have used such exchanges for years, the giants of Corporate
America have only begun to embrace the model in the past year or so as health-care
reform has taken hold. http://online.barrons.com/article/SB50001424053111903536004579463133547759114.html
-Anon-Comment
03/30/14:KJ: so IBM
bleeds more $ with a "new bonus pay plan" design and implementation.
No TDSP in this bonus; not surprised. Do all PBC 2+ qualify? How about those
over their midpoint? -Curious-Comment
03/30/14:I am quickly
learning that IBM is not the great company I thought it was. Apparently it was
at one time, but that time has passed years ago. It is not the leaders of today's
version that brought it down, but rather the Board and the leaders combined
over the years with the incentives that drive their success factors that have
led to the company we see today. That is hard to reckon with as an employee
because besides organizing there is nothing we can do as individuals. Holler
and scream all you want at Ginni and her cronies, they are getting paid and
congrats from the Board. In fact, they are successfully meeting the Board goals.
Our choices - organize or quit. -Concerned IBMer-Comment
03/30/14: I just wanted to clear up the apparent
confusion regarding GDP and raises. There were NO GDP payments this year. The
1 performers will receive a bonus payment, similar to an award, which is why
no TDSP option is available. The 1 and 2+ performers will get a pay raise, effective
either last pay period in March or first pay period in April. -KJ-Comment
03/30/14: While many complain about RA, PBCs,
GDP, I believe there are even bigger lingering motivation issue with employees.
Many of us are struck with same position for years, with managers failing to
vacate their positions for decades (until they retire or die). There is really
no career planning progression to 90% of the workforce except for the execs.
I would say if you are in 30-49 years of age group, Career in IBM is really
your career killer. Any alternative views? -Anonymous-Comment
03/30/14: GDP is to only 1s not to 2+ and was
paid on 3/31. Increase (TCR) is effective 4/1 and will show up on 4/15 for all
1s and some 2+s -temp@ibm-Comment
03/30/14:-Over55- file now in NC and
let that jerk NC governor who only gives you 20 weeks unemployment use tax money
to have the NC DOL use a stamp and letter to notify you when you are allowed
-TarHeeled-Comment
03/30/14: To Over55, in North Carolina
you should apply for unemployment as soon as you can after your last day at
IBM. You might have to wait one week, but no longer than that. -under55-Comment
03/30/14: To Resume Re-tooling Time - I
was told I would get a small raise and also as a PBC1 I'm eligible for the GDP,
but neither were in the 3/31 paycheck. I think someone said the GDP at least
would be in 4/15, to keep it from affecting 1Q financials (but what will keep
it from affecting 2Q, the way things are going??). -MoraleInTheToilet-Comment
03/30/14: Only pbc1 get 6 percent. Pbc2+ do not
get anything. Not GDP this year since there was no growth. Assuming that's why
401k deduction was not in it (ibm never matched bonus 401k contribution anyway
as far as I know) -pbc1-Comment
03/30/14: To JazzOrGlobal: They are
also doing a lot of "staging around BTV" . People in Vt should be
happy someone wants to buy the plant, it's old.. very old and as NPR said probably
only has 5 or so good years left anyway. People in BTV should be positioning
themselves for an exodus no matter who buys it if they are young enough to do
so. I was let go in EFK a few years ago miss the fine workers and friends at
IBM, but not IBM . Good luck BTV ! -John-Comment
03/30/14: To RA'ed in California, you should
apply the first work day after your last day of work at IBM. But, make sure
that you do include your package dollar amount. It does not impact what your
weekly unemployment will total. Also keep in mind that because our unemployment
% is below the national average you are only eligible for 26 weeks of payment.
You can apply for an extension but they are making peoples lives he ll in qualifying
for it now. I was rejected for any extensions when I was RA'd in 2012. I had
to appeal and go through hoops multiple times. -RA'd in 2012-Comment
03/30/14: So, are some SSR's still supposed to
be getting RA'd on Monday? Someone mentioned 3/31 as the date, but nothing since.
Honestly don't see how we could ever make it with any less than we currently
have...at least in my group. -49R SSR-Comment
03/29/14: Some PBC 2+ get a GDP this year? Really?!
I thought Ginni said only PBC 1 get a GDF this year so what is the REAL STORY?
Okay, GREAT, if PBC 2+ are eligible now...(?) So Ginni where is some for PBC
2 now then? IBM Management apologists better not be on this UNION forum! -JoePaycheck-Comment
03/29/14: To -resume-re tooling-. So
IBM is still giving the same BS that only one and twos are eligible for a raise.
I will assure you Ginni will be getting her bonus and stock options. This farce
will continue as long as there is no union. Join the union to stop this corrupt
policy in reference to raises. -ANA-Comment
03/29/14:@ResumeRe-toolingTime, Seriously?
It was stated two months ago that only 1's would get any GDP. 2+'s get nadda,
Nothing showed in pay stub received covering 3/16-3/31.
@screwed-again, It is not up to IBM to decide how any GDP is allocated. As an
employee, YOU, are the one who makes the percentage selection. You are given
the opportunity to change allocations via NetBenefits. -Anon-Comment
03/29/14: Signs of the Burlington plant of being
sold are as follows:
1)Global Foundries on site touring with executives.
2)TowerJazz on site, touring with executives.
3)No mention of 2014 PBC submission due on 3/28 in Burlington MFG and engineering.None.
4)Confirmed with colleagues in EFK that all PBC submissions were due Friday
3/28.
5) The fact that all Personal Business Commitments are due by the 1Q in all
divisions of IBM is very very interesting.Based on the ease of transition to an Israeli company,
over Saudi's Global Foundries, the match of RF applications, the fact that TowerJazz
will be able to corner the market, eliminate it's competitor, and would be in
a position to be the #1 supplier of custom RF/SiGe,and CSOI applications (and
IBM could get a better price) leads to a logical conclusion TowerJazz will be
part of or owning the Burlington site in the near future.
In any event, IBM is selling this plant. It won't be long until we all know
the new owners/partners. -JazzOrGlobal-Comment
03/29/14: Who is behind the data collection from
toadstool67.weebly.com ?? Is this a management troll? -No Trolls
please-
Alliance reply: This is not a management troll. We know who it is and discussed
this with him.
It is a serious attempt to find out if workers are being blacklisted in RA's.
Comment
03/29/14: To Resume Re-tooling Time: I'm
a 2+ and didn't get any increase in my 3/31 paycheck...Unless it is coming as
a separate payment on Monday. I think we have heard 6% for PBC1's... that's
the % for PBC 2+? -Where's my money-Comment
03/29/14: Heard today that GDP and the salary
increase will be in 3/31 paycheck. Only 1 and 2+ are eligible. And of those
not all got an increase. Blamed missed numbers for the limited amount being
paid out. IBM spends $Billion$ a year buying back stock - the money is there
but just not for the troops who do the work. -Resume Re-tooling
Time-Comment
03/28/14: The OSHA form at Albany NANO was blank
until this week. Average number of employees is listed at 151. I wonder if this
board had something to do with the report suddenly being posted.
-Albany NANO OHSA report-Comment
03/28/14: So for those lucky few who are getting
variable pay this year it appears there is a new name to this bogus bonus and
none of it goes to 401K. Which means this bonus is getting taxed at close to
40%. -screwed-again-Comment
03/28/14: When can we apply for unemployment
in CA? Are we eligible on April 1st or after completion of accrued years of
service pay? -RA'ed in Califonia-Comment
03/28/14: Wegman's was rated top supermarket
in USA again. Why? They state:"We have always believed that if you meet the needs of your employees,
they will in turn take care of your customers. That has been the central philosophy
of this company for many years, and it has a proven track record of working."
Hear that Ginny? IBM used to believe in that. When it stopped, it started to
eat itself alive. -jsb2b-Comment
03/28/14: Alliance Question: what is the current
status of the selling of Burlington site and several buildings in East Fishkill
(310, 320, 321)? -no where else to work in this town-Alliance reply: We don't know. Hearing the same rumors
you are. Comment
03/28/14: Can't get a job after being RA'd? Think
you have been blacklisted?http://toadstool67.weebly.com/
-Anon-Comment
03/28/14: To -Afraid to take flyers-. I
was one of those handing out flyers in Fishkill at the main gate and at gate
5. We watched the security cameras track us. I put flyers in the break room
and sat at the table to talk. I WAS A FISHKILL EMPLOYEE at the time. I am still
an IBM employee with 33 years in the company. I wear an Alliance lanyard for
my badge. Most of the people I started with have been resourced and none of
them ever went public if they were an Alliance supporter. As long as we are
afraid of taking a stand we will get what we deserve. If they decide to RA me
at least I can say I tried to help my fellow employees. I now mentor new hires
to get their contacts in the industry, polish the resume and get out.
-Still a Public member-Comment
03/27/14: I am seeing a pattern here of PBC 3
performers being told they were "distracted". Who came up with this
plan to use this particular word? Those of you who received the 3, what group
are you in - e.g., STG, GBS, GTS? The quota for PBC 3s appears to have gone
up this year - in some organizations more than others. Why? To encourage attrition?
To avoid severance costs? It is a dirty move. -Anonymous-Comment
03/27/14: Even if IBM makes their $20 EPS, no
IBM resources other than IBM management will make their stated goals in their
PBC since all employees are essentially "distracted resources", except
maybe Watson which can cognitively keep making gourmet flavored IBM kool-aid
for the distracted resources. -da_facts-Comment
03/27/14:@Anonymous Coward. The ability
to copy previous years data into one new PBC has been there for about ten years.
-anon-Comment
03/27/14:-concerned IBMer- Exempt employees
can unionize. Most IBM non-management employees should qualify. I'm not well
versed on the exact break point but generally management cannot unionize. For
non-management there are some restrictions related to how much you control others
work load and career but I don't know the details. -anonymous-retiree-Comment
03/27/14:Comment 03/24/14: How many Persons
with a disability(PWD) have been RA'd in the last couple of years or encouraged
to go on disability after asking for accommodations? -Anonymous-I am a PwD and while I was not RA'ed, I left of my own accord in 2011.
I could tell I was targeted and I believe the expense of accommodation services
I was using was probably one of the factors (but of course, we will never know
for sure). There were two PwD's in my department and we were both gone by 2011.
In hindsight, leaving was the best move I ever made because multiple people
from my old department were RA'ed this time in 2013.-Jeff-Comment
03/26/14: Look at the top 50 CEOs rated by their
employees, Ginny why aren't you setting our company goals to make the list?
Oh, wait $20 EPS is more important.http://static.glassdoor.com/static/docs/lists/ceos/glassdoor-highest-rated-ceos-2014-large.pdf?v=ea1f91aw5p-Wrong priorities-Comment
03/26/14: X86ers TUPE If you have a email outlining
your in scope to move to Lenovo there us not much you can do It's a lockdown
meaning you can't apply for jobs or take any severance packages Your IBM pension
I Believe will be frozen on the day you become a Lenovo employee 1st Nov
-Joe-Comment
03/26/14: I'm not 100% About the 2 yr thing but
I think I do know that your seniority will transfer over no issue ..... I know
cause I was part of the first sale (thinkpad). -lenovo guy-Comment
03/26/14: There are good sources at BTV claiming
another layoff is coming soon. Good luck sounds like 300 + or -
-Free@last-Comment
03/26/14: Wow, so the PBC tool now asks if you
want to copy the prior years goals for this year. That's should be blatantly
obvious that i